Index to Pages

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Making Progress!

Christmas tree at Rosario's Mexican Restaurant, San Antonio, Texas
We're making progress after the fire! We have turned in our initial contents list and hopefully we are finished with that. If not, we will need to add to it from the lists we didn't put on the spread sheet. SHEESH!.....43 years of marriage and so many blessings we had trouble counting them! Our oldest son has been here this week helping us
Yesterday, we sent the list off and then headed into town to enjoy the festivities. 
 I had never been to the Holiday River Parade before,although I grew up in San Antonio, so this was really a nice start to the season!


 I didn't include pictures of all the floats, but I have shown you a "taste" of the atmosphere. It was perfect weather for this. Although we had a "cold front" come through, it was clear and about 60 degrees on the Riverwalk. 
And take a look at this! My husband gave me an early Christmas present!!! A Handi-Quilter Sweet Sixteen! It's a "sit down" long arm. This was a demo model being sold at a local quilt shop. It is strictly for quilting. So.....
for sewing....my parents gave me my grandmother's old Singer Slantamatic! It sews beautiful stitches! This is the model 401. My grandmother was an expert seamstress. She is 105 now and doesn't do much sewing.
 That's my week! I still feel optimistic and calm. We have the check in hand from the house, we've already sold the lot the house was on, and the contents list is hopefully finished.

 Even Sugarplum is happy that things are going so well. She climbed up in my lap and cuddled up against my chest to sleep. I couldn't resist snapping a photo of her. It was this time last year that she was abandoned as a tiny kitten.
      It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

36 comments:

  1. Bless The Lord. What a heartwarming post! So happy for you Linda that there are many lights at the end of your tunnel : ) Give hubby a hug for me. Awesome present!! Your G-ma is 105?

    ReplyDelete
  2. How joyful to be able to enjoy the season festivities and the unique Riverwalk. I have been there but not at Christmas. Sugarplum looks very sweet and content. She knows a loving lap and home. Thankfully you are making progress on your home resolve. Such a thoughtful and loving husband to gift you with a longarm. Bless your grandma at 105. How special to have her sewing machine to carry on the sewing creative traditions. Linda your sweet smile shows just how special you and your family are. May you have continued progress in beginning anew dear...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi!!!! I am so happy for you and yours!!!! Glad things are getting back to more normal!!!! Sending hugs and prayers!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I just love the old machines for piecing, they have the sweetest stitches. And what a wonderful early present. Many Blessings to you and your family .

    ReplyDelete
  5. So glad things are looking up for you and your hubby. When God closes one door he always opens another. Love your new machine and I am sure you are going to have some fun times with that! And to have your grandmothers machine.. that is just fabulous! Wish I had my grannys treadle. :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Glad to hear that there are a lot of positive things going on in your lives :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a 'sweet' Christmas gift! I bought one a few months ago, and I've been almost afraid to use it. But today is the day! The Riverwalk Christmas parade looks like fun. Glad you'e able to enjoy some 'normal' activities!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sugarplum knows that it's the people who make a home not the things in it! Blessings to you, this Christmas and New Year.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I am happy to read that there are a lot of positive things happening over there. So fun with a Christmas parade. And Sugarplum is so sweet and happy.
    Thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  10. Glad to hear things are starting to look up. A parade on the water! It must have been beautiful to see. What a lovely hubby to buy you that quilting machine and how lovely to be able to sew on the machine that was your Grandmothers. Sending you hugs, Christine.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wonderful news on all fronts! I can't imagine listing the contents of my home.... like you said, there are sooooo many blessings. Your new sweet 26 is fabulous! It will be so amazing to quilt with a LA..... have fun with it. Glad you got to enjoy the River Walk. I've only been there once and just loved it. That kind of medicine is good for your soul. And glad Sugarplum is doing so well. You take care. Blessing to you and yours!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Now this is joy that is worth celebrating....always blessings when your heart is full...16 welllllll this could bring the joy out of any woman.lol

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a fabulous week you had ... a Holiday Parade on water, great gifts from your husband and parents, a beautiful fur baby taking a little nap on a warm body. It won't be long now and you'll have a permanent home for your new toys.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I've been thinking about you this week....wondering how Thanksgiving was for you. And I can see you have been blessed indeed. Starting over has to be bittersweet. So many memories are wrapped up in our things. But you have the opportunity to make new memories and the anticipation of that is a blessing in itself. May God continue to bless you with His grace and His peace. blessings, mrlene

    ReplyDelete
  15. I am happy to hear that things are going well for you. I want to hear how you like the Sweet Sixteen. I have looked at one and considered it for a "retirement" present to myself in about a year. But what I really want is a long arm machine. It all depends on space in the retirement villa. So far we haven't found a place we love.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I've heard lots of good things about 401's. I even know where to get a 1/4" slant shank foot for it. I have that foot for my 301. So glad you are getting some sewing started. What a great outlet for what 'ails' you. Have fun in California for Christmas. The presents aren't what's important, the fact that you are safe and there is the important part.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I love the River Walk, I've never been there to see it all lit up at Christmas time though. That HQ is a SWEET 16 ! Have fun with her ! Rescue animals always seem to know that they were rescued, I would say your kitty is in Sugarplum bliss !

    ReplyDelete
  18. The River Walk looks so pretty. So happy to see you got some wonderful early presents and especially that you can really use those sewing/quilting machines. Thanks for the update on your progress Linda.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks for the update Linda and it is good to hear that things are moving forward. Your early Christmas present looks fab and I look forward to hearing how it performs. As for Sugarplum she is adorable as always.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Love hearing things are looking up-thank you for sharing because you are an inspiration to others! Your husband needs extra brownie points!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Showers of blessings!!! You are being blessed as you have blessed others. I am so glad things are turning around for you. Making a list of everything you own...oh I would so hate to do that - how can you remember??! Guess we should all take pictures of everything in our homes and store those pictures outside our homes! Have a blast with your new Sweet 16!! And your new-to-you Singer!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Great pictures Thanks for sharing. You have received some wonderful gifts. Love the vintage machine.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Here's your 3rd comment from someone named Carla (crazy, huh!)....I enjoyed your post so much and can only imagine your excitement at the sewing/quilting gifts. You are my 3rd quilting friend to loose their home and quilts in a house fire...one almost quit quilting. I'm so glad that you haven't!!
    Blessings to you, Linda.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Linda, what a nice post! So happy to read about your progress. You will enjoy your two "new" machines! Hugs, Rene'

    ReplyDelete
  25. Beautiful post. Happy to read you are doing well. Wonderful pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Blessed indeed! So much good news! Wow! Love the machine too!!!!! Love to you!!!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Sugarplum is so sweet what would we do without these bundles of love. I am so happy that positve things are going on in your life. New machines to do your beautiful quilts on again , and a new home eventually. Blessing to you and your husband for a wonderful new life . Hugs Sandra

    ReplyDelete
  28. so happy things are looking up for you. Sending you and your husband blessings prayers that things will continue to get better.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hi Linda, so pleased that things are getting a little better for you all. Sugarplum looks so sweet. I hope you have a lovely Christmas. Susie x

    ReplyDelete
  30. Linda, I'm still reeling - on your behalf - from the tragedy that overwhelmed you in October. Your fortitude is admirable, though I'm sure that in moments alone you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders. I'm terribly happy for you to have gotten a Sweet Sixteen, a machine I have admired for several years. It looks like you'll be doing some beautiful piece and quilting with these machines. No need to reply to me, out of courtesy. I know you've got plenty on your plate right now. Just know you're being remembered in prayer, and that God will continue to hold you up. Blessings from a fellow MCM bee-er.

    ReplyDelete
  31. This was a wonderful post. I have been blessed by you so many times as I have thought about and prayed for you and your husband. I believe those machines will help you accomplish many beautiful things. I'm so glad you are a part of our little group. Blessings to you and your family this holiday season.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Linda ... it is so good to hear how you are doing. May you enjoy many more blessings this season and may your Christmas be as bright as your beautiful smile ... :) Pat

    ReplyDelete
  33. Glad you are feeling happy about Christmas. It reminds me of that song "Count your blessings, instead of sheep," and you certainly are an example for the rest of us of counting our blessings. The Riverwalk parade looks sparkly and festive and fabulous, and glad you have finished the contents list of things in your house--a HUGE job.

    Congrats on your early Christmas present from your husband! Too fun!

    Elizabeth
    opquilt.com

    ReplyDelete
  34. Have been on the road and not taking much time to read blogs. Just checking in to see how you are and to wish you a slightly belated Merry Christmas. I'm working on a wonderful old machine, too, and it's a cadillac! How I'd love to have a Sweet Sixteen, you lucky devil!! Hope things are progressing for you and you'll soon have more news to share. In the meantime, know you are being thought of!!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Merry Christmas Linda. I just stopped by to see how you are doing. Looks like you are doing okay. I am happy to see that. Keep on counting those blessings.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Oh, you're Sugarplum looks a lot like my daughter's Jack. He was abandoned with his siblings at about two weeks old and we adopted him (and the daughter he belongs to.) The two of them are inseparable and he is so cute with her. They both have the most adorable dimples!

    ReplyDelete

You can leave your comment here! (I'm so sorry, but if you are an Anonymous commenter, your comment will not publish. This is because of the huge amounts of spam that I have received from anonymous sources.)