The Gift!!

My husband RETIRED on Wednesday and we headed up to the mountains for R&R...He for a tennis tournament and me for sewing and fabric shops.  I had been so wondering what retirement present to get my man.  He sat in the car while I ran into the Tuesday Morning in Asheville.....and when I came out I was carrying the perfect present!!!!!  By the astonished look on his dumbfounded face.....by his speechless demeanor, I knew in my heart that I had made the right choice...:)

This is a Kenmore mini ultra...11 pounds!!  We know that we cannot keep up with the Jones'...but we CAN keep up with the D family and the W family and the Y family....They all have a Kenmore...Now the lucky M family has one too!!!  (Although Peggy says that Kenmore machines are now owned and made by Janome).  Kathy had one of these at a Guild Sit and Sew and I totally loved it.  It is easy to carry and comes in the most lovely shade of blue (that does not show so well in this pix). She gave me the Ebay link for a $10 free motion foot for it.  How exciting is this???  This machine is available online at the Kenmore link for $99 or at Sears or Walmart for $69...but thrifty me found it at Tuesday Morning for $59.  I thought it was hot off the press, but Kathy has had hers for three years..so guess not.  I am so glad that my husband has retired!!!!

I did a little work on these quilt blocks in the hotel room while Mr. O'Quilts was playing tennis.  I have 9 blocks to go to make 7 by 5...if I want it that small...I also worked on my secret challenge for my IQ bee.  We read by the fire in the cozy hotel lobby, exercised in the pool, ate dinner out and had a wonderful time.  Oh, and P.S....went to 4 quilt stores.  I think that Ruth is right.  The Asheville Cotton Company is really a wonderful store.  They have frequent sales of 20% off all fabric...a wonderful sale section...with minimum cut of 1/2 yard....AND  they offer Wi-Fi for waiting husbands.  We hit two Foam and Fabric stores which both said that they have Wi-Fi, but do not let customers use it...whatever.....Good customer service brings in more moola...It was sad to see that Marti's quilt store in Black Mountain has gone out of business.  We are home now.  It will be very strange for my husband not to go back to work come Monday....oh...hmmm...he just got an email with a possible offer of consultation...hmmmm