Grand Re-Opening of the Quilt Corner in Central

Paula and I tripped over to Central this morning for the Grand Re-Opening.  It might sound far,  but it really is not too far.  While it is not really "central" it is sort of on the "edge" of Baton Rouge.

The Quilt Corner moved across the wide parking lot to larger digs.  Tall ceilings and no walls made  the space feel HUGH!

The Mayor of Central and the Central Chamber of Commerce came to the Ribbon Cutting.   Margaret Chair, the owner, has the huge scissors and my friend Joni is running the cash register!

I didn't win anything, I got 10% off 3 fat quarters, perused some really nice fabric and spun the wheel  to win a postcard something or other.  I chose to leave it for others to take.

While I was fondling fabric, I talked to a quilting friend whose son was a policeman in Florida.  He and Deputy Brad Garafola grew up together and began their careers together at the East Baton Rouge Parish Deputy's office.  He was here to mourn his friend.

The third of the funerals was today.  Once again, the city shut down in stages as the procession moved through the neighborhoods Officer Montrell Jackson patrolled.  All three processions passed by what they are calling "End of Watch", the place where they were killed on Airline Hwy.

Tonight, over 70 restaurants will donated 25-30% of their sales to the Fallen Officers Fund and the officer's families to help them with costs.

There is still one officer fighting for his life, he was shot in the head and chest, I think he is still in a coma.  But I am not sure if it is medical or otherwise.

So sad.........what a waste of great men.

Beginnings of a Good-bye

Today I went to Laplace to set up the funeral planning for my mom.  My mom is fairly healthy as people in her situation can be.  She is 80 years old and in end stages Alzheimers which allows her to be in Hospice.  After the fall last year she is in the nursing home near the house where I can go check on her during the week.  I don't visit more than that because it upsets her to not know me when she feels she should know me and it upsets me that all this has to happen. 

I take her her cokes she loves and some peanut butter cookies, assorted chocolates and Mounds and Almond Joy bars which were her favorites.  But other than that she is in her own world just surviving.  She barely eats anything to speak of. 

And she is running out of money.  So I figured that the plot next to my dad was needed and the funeral needed to be paid for.  My brother has no intention of ponying up any money for his mother anyway, so I saved myself a lot of aggravation and hard feelings toward him by using the last bits of her money for this.

It would have been what she wanted me to do anyway.

So she is now the proud owner of a powder blue casket and a graveside service for immediate family at the cemetery. 

And at least this part is over for me now.

glen:  I couldn't resist this one --- a Mummy of course!

Funeral and then back to quilting

Lots of his family there. Ruthie was not happy I didn't bring my mom. And Stan's brother kept going to Frank and saying that he didn't understand why she wasn't there.

My brother came with his daughter and wife, cousin Karen, and Andrew and Carrie and Frank and I-----so that was a good representation of her side.

Stan's grandsons were his pall bearers. They all wore those white fishing boots, it was a good tribute to a man who hunted and fished for a living.

Oh, I forgot to tell you this. I wish I would have had a camera with me.  But on the way back from the funeral Carrie and Andrew and Frank and I stopped and ate that fabulous thin fried catfish at Middendorf’s (a total necessity if you are nearby). Then Frank and I drove down Hwy 51 along side the interstate rather than on the interstate to look at the new Wildlife Management Area they set up into the swamp.

And when we pulled up into the parking lot—-what did we see? A huge fine rooster and 4 chickens and about 15 baby chicks! He was dark irridescent brown with green longer tail feathers and a bright comb. I didn’t get a good look at the hens. They scattered too quickly.
We were shocked, out there in the middle of god forsaken nowhere swamp! And you know there are aligators and mink and snakes of all kinds out there too. But they are making it.

And the first thing I thought of was “Judy  at Patchwork Place would LOVE this!”

 glen