Not a good thing

Another Friday at home with the Man. I had what I thought to be a yummy idea. The Man suggested eating out, I really didn’t feel like going out so we had take out for the evening and while out the Man picked up a couple of movies for the night. Earlier in the week while searching for a recipe I had come across a recipe for whiskey cake. I had some Jack Daniels in the cupboard

begging to be put to use. The reason why I so wanted to make this whiskey cake is because in the beginning of August while visiting my First Born her hubby had brought home a whiskey cake someone had made. I had a piece and found it to be oh so yummy. Off to the store the Man went for dinner, movies and the one ingredient I did not have. Upon his return I began this cake so it would bake while we sat watching one of our movies and eating our subs. This cake needed to bake 30 minutes. Within 25 minutes we began to notice the house was filling with smoke and then the smoke detector was triggered. To the kitchen, the dog ran outside afraid of the noise. This darn cake, full of butter, sugar, and eggs mainly, spilled over onto the bottom of the stove as it was puffing up during the baking process. I made the decision to let it finish cooking and run the exhaust. This was not a good thing. Now the house is so smelly, I hoped the smell would leave the house before we headed off to bed. It was a cool evening so I opened the door bringing in the fresh air. Off to bed, and a sleepless night began. The smell of burned grease was stuck in my nostrils keeping me awake, the house still smelled the next morning. One bad thing, I have cakes to make for a Bridal shower and a Birthday Party for the soon to be 3 Granddaughter. I have to clean the oven. Set the oven for cleaning, and this was a mistake. I did try to clean the bottom before hand but the burned on greasy debris would not move. Once again billowing smoke rose from the oven. What am I to do? Off to the store for air freshener and something to budge the filthy grease off the bottom of this stove. A couple of hours spent cleaning the bottom and the racks to the oven with the only cleaning product I could find that might work. S.O.S pads. I forgot what wonders these little scrubbing pads held. They do exactly as they say. Now I can set the oven for a good high temp clean and hope tonight I get a better nights rest for the house is still smelly, for the smoke has permeated everything. Hope for tomorrow and fresh scent once again.

You ask how the Whiskey cake turned out. Not the same as I tasted at my Daughters. Need the recipe of that cake, for this really  wasn’t a cake. I believe it was a take on chess pie. The flavor was okay but the texture not too pleasing. Rubbery, I may have done something wrong. All in all the ice cream made it edible. In the future I will protect the oven with cookie sheets under an overfilled dish saving me time and trouble of unwanted cleaning and smells. Lesson learned the hard way.

The Curse

Earlier this week I started on Cali Girls wedding dress. I finalized all the ideas for the dress, bought all things needed to start the construction of this wondrous garment, from stabilizers to boning. The first fitting had been accomplished thanks to younger sister and a muslin piece. I made the necessary adjustments to the pattern pieces and away I began sewing. First pattern piece I cut, success, the second piece I did not realize was wrong until it was cut. Wouldn’t you know, I inadvertently cut the wrong size. Back to the fabric and reminder to add this allowance. So okay, to the machine I start sewing, I use voile for the stabilizer for the silk would not do well with a fusible. Sewn, to the iron I go to press the seams flat, low and behold a permanent crease in the silk created by cutting the front pattern piece directly on the fold where it had been wrapped around the bolt. Argh, back to the drawing board. I ripped the back loose from the front and cut a new piece, not on the folded fold this time. This makes three fronts cut now. Monies wasted of a 20.00 dollar a yard silk. No worries of total waste though since I can use these pieces to create the flowers intended for embellishment of the bodice. Here is the curse of it all. I am a bit of a perfectionist, I know what the outcome needs to be. Couture look and a strapless bodice that should be able to stand on its’ own. Structure to look as if it fits like a glove. The next layer created should do the trick. A wool felt interior. I have done this before on a strapless gown, the look was amazing. I sew this layer, insert it to the bodice and yikes, the outer shell has stretch during pressing of seams, curved seams and the heavy boning I bought to use instead of the lighter sew to the seam boning was showing where it stopped and began which I had sewn to the felt. Another front will need to be cut now along with a new tactic in constructing this bodice to have the look and feel of a corset without really being one. Back to the fabric store I go to look for different interior fabric similar to felt and I need to be certain to stabilize edge with some tape. Brainstorming begins, less pressing to remember and a fourth front will need to be cut.

Tomorrow is a new day with a fresh mind and more time set aside without interruption of my daily life that can be mind boggling and  frustrating throwing me into a not so peaceful mind of creativity. I will not let the curse of Perfection become my enemy I vow to embrace you. Damn it we have a one of a kind Wedding Gown to create.

Make it Work, and trim those seams.

I am not a quitter but a doer, you don’t know what you don’t know. But I know what I want the end results to be.

Put the Scissors Down

If you know nothing about sewing or alterations at all, this is a good place for a pair of scissors. Just put them on display and never put them to a garment or piece of cloth. If you can not cut a straight line what so ever I also suggest just display those scissors of yours, better yet hide them in a drawer. Out of sight out of mind. The reason I suggest this so strongly, more than once I have be asked to correct the mistakes of a layman. “I thought I would try to hem these slacks myself”, says a client as I, looking at the chunky cut fabric with an angle and bordering on becoming too short after the fact. Said client not being able to have the slacks any shorter expects me to fix the mistake and make them as good as new. Wrongo. You cannot add back what has been cut. Just like when your child decided to cut her own bangs, before her first piano recital and they are crooked and close to the hair line in spots. Every Mother has experienced this at one time or another. Only good thing about that scenario, the hair grows back. In the meantime you patch it up with straightening and shortening. Pretty again, and soon good as new. If only fabric could grow back without splicing two pieces together trying to hide the mistakes.
Today, I was shown 2 bathing suits by the fitter who took them in at the http://drycleaningstationcolumbus.com/ (the place I do contract sewing for) to my surprise as she showed me the inside of the suits, the client had taken a pair of scissors and cut most of the lining away. One suit happened to be worse than the other. Guess what I was expected to do. The client wanted me to recreate the lining while at the same time adding a bra shelf. At least this is what I derived from the fitter. Actually she was only mentioning the bra shelf. Never once mentioned what to do with the lower half of the lining left in the suits. It is often difficult to home in on certain instructions the fitter is trying to convey to me. When I ask questions pertinent, she has not one answer. Why you ask, because the fitter did not ask them of the client herself. Like, what are your expectations, do you want the new sewn to the cut lining, what is the limited amount you want to pay? These questions and many others are very important in order to have a happy client in the end. I am not saying this job is impossible to do. How much is this job worth? I know, but is the client willing to pay more than what the bathing suit itself is worth? Such a mess was created by the client, a half a day would be spent reworking and hoping the inner lining would fit properly and the stitching would not break when worn. Plus, do I stock the elastic needed and used to create a bra shelf. Big fat no.  I have the right to say no, but the fitter continues to try and convince me to do the job. Oh by the way you must keep the pricing reasonable. I knew this would not be easy, so three times I had to say, "I do not want to do this job". Only then did the fitter say, “You have the right to say no.” There you go, No it is.
I suggest to a layman, if you want to do alterations on your own garments, go to your nearest computer find a tutorial, get a piece of fabric and practice cutting a straight line. Don’t forget to use a ruler first to draw a straight line, for even I the experienced one can not and do not cut a line blindly when it is needed to be straight.
Sorry Bathing Suit Lady, Good Luck!




                                                           Laser Scissors for cutting straight

Started

We are up and running now. Instead of making a trip to my hometown Indiana for a visit I chose to stay behind. I stayed in the workroom until 12:00am going over pattern pieces, cutting and altering along with cutting muslins for fit.This can be the first step in ending with the proper fit and suggested when working with styles and fabric that do not take kindly to alterations after garments are constructed. I am a firm believer, if it is a custom garment, alterations should not be neccessary and should be performed along the way. However this does become difficult when, "Oh" let's say, a Bride lives 2300 miles away. In this case I will construct the gown leaving key components basted together making it easier to tweek wherever the gown may need more shape when the Bride arrives home Labor day weekend. The Bride will want more of a close to finished gown versus just a muslin. I too want this. .

The Bride and her younger sister are close to the same size, but with a little different shape. She so could be a fit model, she has the correct measurements for the job. So this will come in handy fitting a muslin to her before cutting the Bridal fabric. Silk duiponi isn't always forgiveable if letting out is needed. I am so ready and excited about cutting the final fabric. Tonight dinner plans have been made along with fittings on the Brides youngest (Maid of Honor) sister and older sister (first Bridesmaid).

So Mother Dear Please forgive me for not visiting this weekend in Indiana. September 3rd is just around the bend. The sewing has only now just began. The time alone without the Man was needed.

Compromising

When trying to plan an event and the people involve are larger than life in their own way. Do you compromise the way you would like your event to be? The difficulties of separation of Family also becomes ever more apparent as well. You have the day of a lifetime all planned out to a tee. This vision is one most of us start planning from a young age. We all dressed our Barbie's in gowns and walked Barbie down the aisle to marry Ken. I did, did you? For your big day you already have in mind the styles of clothing you would like, the cake of your dreams you want, the flowers you love, and where you have always envisioned your big event would take place. Do you stand fast with these visions? Do you allow others to sway you in any way? At times you must. It becomes so overwhelming with all entities involved, you just get tired and broken down from all the chatter and wants of others who may be involved. Others opinions can be a strong force. So now the ones so far away jump on board and rethink and go to plan B. Till the day the big event takes place there will be many a compromise to be had. The ones who know and love you the most will stand the course jump on board and ride your ride till the end, going with the ebb and flow of things. As I have always said to my Family, just go with the flow and you will enjoy life. Control what you can for plans can often change on a dime. Don’t sweat the small stuff. I will help in anyway I can and stand behind each and every decision set forth. For I am the Mom who supports what may occur with any child of mine born. With a support system in play the day will come together without a hitch.

Learning to compromise is so important for us all. A little give and take helps all relationships stand the test of time. Marriages often falter because of too little give. I find it is important as well to learn a key point to any relationship whether it be a spouse, your child, friend or sibling, pick your battles wisely. The strength of a relationship without constant struggle will survive if the struggles are kept to a minimum. I like to believe this is why I still love the Man in my life of 24 years and know we will go forward together to the end of our days here on this earth. Ladies be happy with you and everything you do for only you can make you happy, not our spouse, boyfriend or siblings.

In closing: Stay true to you, Pick your battles, Learn compromise, You will survive.

Outcome of

 If I am good at only one thing that would be the ability to stay persistent. Whenever I am able to communicate with Soldier Son I find myself asking again and again. “Should I book your ticket for the Cali Wedding?” His answer is always no, but his e-mails at times and phone conversations do teeter on the possibility of yes. I understand his reluctance, just a little. But darn it, I am selfish and want you with us on this special occasion representing Family and Country. So every time we speak until it is too late and too costly my Soldier Son will most likely her me ask this question. Should I book your ticket to San Diego?

When the children were of a young age, they would often ask me over and over the same question I had already given a no to. Their hopes were, they might just break me into saying yes so I would no longer have to hear them ask again the same tiresome question. Begging and pleading worked with my Mother. It rarely, I must admit worked with me as a Mother. Grounding was eminent if they persisted. So I must tread lightly with asking over and over and make a joke of it. I don’t want to alienate Soldier Son and cause him to become angry with me. He just may punish me with withdrawal and a no show when his leave back to the states comes due. I say this in jest. I think he knows I only have good intentions and want the whole Family present and accounted for. Being persistent gets us through the most trying times in our lives, a job that seems impossible with a time consuming task. Persistence and tenacity brings it to an end with great rewards of accomplishment. So I hope with persistence, since convincing with reasons of importance isn’t working, maybe, just maybe I will wear him down. It is though highly likely NO for he is a stubborn one.

Wish Me Luck in prevailing. For I am tenacious.

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                             Say What!!

Trust in Creativity

The California Wedding is less than 2 months away. Cali Girl is planning on a visit Labor Day weekend. I am so stoked to have her home once again and the visit is so necessary for finalization of her wedding gown. After a long talk, via a phone conversation I was able to convey to my beauty the wedding gown I have envisioned for her big day. Cali Girl had called to say maybe she should purchase a dress instead, of me creating one, for she believed I was feeling stressed and a bit overwhelmed. This really wasn’t true. The dress she tried on which made her cry cost 2800 dollars but was marked down from this price and she could possibly purchase it for 1800. I do not have this money. She realizes this but wanted to alleviate some of the stress she believed I was having. The stress I was feeling happened out of having no plans for beginning.  I wish I had been able to be with my girl when she was trying on wedding gowns, it would have been easier to keep her focused on what was feasible for me to do, and a reminder of the reason for trying on different styles of gowns. This was an event that took place with my Eldest Daughter. We went to the bridal shops for try ons to narrow down the perfect style for her body when she was planning her big day. Once that was settled on and she told me the colors she wanted for her gown, she pretty much let go of the reigns and away I went. Since I was unable to be with Cali Girl on such an exciting trip that should have been shared between a Mother and Daughter I relied on her oldest sibling to help her out. The Eldest had taken a vacation to visit Cali Girl, sad to say this trip to the bridal shops did not fair well. I was not there, who knows really why things happened as they did, ones own perspective is different from your own. There are times you wish for wealth so you are able to fulfill the dreams of having this perfect already constructed gown that brought tears to a child who needs to be able to see it feel it and try it on and being able to give it to them.  I can only rely on my talents while realizing along the way I have certain limitations. Some of the imitations often are created by lack of available materials to the layman. Maybe there are others wishing for better suppliers in town who are more diversified. Supply and fabric stores have gone the way of crafts. I had banked on special ordering fabrics and lace a year ago. I am kicking myself in the rear for not buying at that time, for the store no longer has this option. Thank You so much JoAnn Fabrics (I say with a hint of sarcasm.)

My phone conversation with Cali Girl lasted for about an hour. Thank goodness she had at hand the same wedding magazine I had purchased and the style of the gown (via pattern sent with the Eldest) at her disposal.  I, threw out page numbers of floral designs I plan on creating for the bodice of the gown made from fabrics of the dress, encrusted with plenty of bling, simple bling throughout the bodice fading down to the hip line. Cali Girl tossed out page numbers as well of her vision, and how she wanted the back of the dress to appear as she is walking down the aisle, not straight across, but a v back. She then found a picture of a ribbon bow she wanted at the waist. No belt Mom, she informed me just this beautiful satin waist trim. It isn’t really a ribbon but is made from fabric giving this bow fullness. The train of the dress will still be detachable, but will appear to be a part of the dress. By the end of our phone conversation things became clearer and her fears of the unknown had been lifted. Cali Girl gave way to the fabric I have chosen and has now put her full trust in me. Having made plenty a Prom dress for her to wear and her loving them all she feels safe and sure now, having a clearer vision, she realizes she will have a one of a kind, created by Mother and Daughter, never to be had by another, A  Wedding Gown many would Dream of having.

LET THE CREATING AND SEWING BEGIN. Labor Day is just around the corner.Before you know it time will fly by.

Choosing the Right One

Planning a wedding when the bride is 2300 miles away is very difficult. There is something to be said when you have the whole wedding party close at hand. Meetings are set in order to ensure everyone is on the same page in order to  have a meeting of the minds. I find myself becoming so confused.  I do not know where to start. This typically is not my way. Choices, choices, choices. What is the idea bridesmaid dress? Should I make it from the Duiponi silk I love or should I stick to the old bridal fabric standards that so many bridesmaid dresses are constructed  of. I think I have homed in on the design for the Maid of Honor it is similar to the styles of late I have been altering for other dresses, and the first Bridesmaid was very specific of the style she wanted so that was a piece of cake. Now I just need to create the muslin for her dress, for she generally needs adjustments somewhere on the top. You see, the Maid of Honor and the first Bridesmaid in line are my Daughters and I have made many a Prom dress for both.

Guidance Please, would you give me some? The Cali wedding happening October 9th is only a few months away. I have so much down time at the moment with work it is the perfect time to get going. Did I mention the wedding dress? What will I do there? Cali girl sent a picture of a dress she tried on and cried over because of its’ beauty. I am sad to say, the dress is beyond my capabilities due to the time constraint and materials at hand. What to do? Cali girl has dreamed of me creating her gown for as long as I can remember and now I have found my limitations and I am feeling a bit inadequate. A fully beaded gown in less than 2 months isn’t possible, lace, at least beautiful lace isn’t accessible. I look and search often for the right patterns and design and I redesign in my head, that it is slowly bringing me down. The dress  I know I can make beautiful with hand made flowers with Austrian crystal centers and a touch of beading thru out the bodice has not brought a response. A little tweaking and a few modifications, for instance, shirring (roucheing) gone, skirt made out of this satin and not bubbled, replaced with sheer layers, hand worked flowers would adorn the bodice down to the waist, the edge of the hip line a little trim with bling. A skinny rhinestone belt would hold a detachable train giving this wedding dress the best of both worlds. A train for the wedding and a dress after, that doesn’t need bustling and the dress will less likely be ruined from dragging the ground, or stepped on by guest. Bustling often does not stay attached and hiding it within the garment even trickier. I see the outcome and the possibilities of this style, conveying it to someone who needs to see the finished product and try it on first is very difficult. Should it be made out of bridal satin or duipioni silk? I say the silk, I love the slight rawness of the fabric and the sense of luxury for this fabric is not inexpensive and suits an outdoors wedding so perfectly. Beach pictures perfect for the design I have in mind. Simple was the original plan. I want my Daughter to have the dress of her dreams. What is the cost of the dress that made you cry? Is this the way we should go? I just don’t know.  

This blog post is my way of clearing my head for it is spinning. I am slowly sinking and becoming depressed and beside myself. HELP!!!! I can’t imagine how Cali Girl is feeling if I, so far away from the planning am feeling overwhelmed. How overwhelmed is Cali Girl? I am sure it is 10 times worst. Not to have your Mother handy helping and confirming along the way the choices are spectacular must be 100 times worst. I know soon the bright light will go off and decisions will be made, hopefully by the end of the week. For now, I have my fabric, closing in on the style. Start here first, I guess. Give the final decisions a deadline and the way will be paved clear. Without Deadlines PROCRASTINATION becomes an enemy and our DOWNFALL. The wedding in waiting will not be brought down, for the times they are a changing, not withstanding.

Keeping Hope High

In this economy and the job market it is becoming  more prevalent that one must maintain at all times the fear they may at any moment be out of the job they were giving their all to. I ask you what do Employers want from us today? Are we becoming expendable, because of the high unemployment percentage in all States? Are Employers letting people go more than not before their 90 day probation is up and why? Is it to save money? Doesn’t the retraining of a newbie cost a company more money with constant turn over?  Job security no longer exist, for there are many who are unemployed at this time. We must walk on eggshells these days I guess after we are able to finally land a job. To put it bluntly start kissing the ASS of our Boss. I myself have been without work for over a year and have given up  seeking employment. Thank God I do have talent and ways to generate other income. Not everyone is so lucky. Someone near and Dear to me just lost their job. She was called in for her 90 day review, with excitement she opened the door grabbed a seat and to her dismay was told she was no longer needed and was given a bullshit reason. She showed up for a part time job on time when scheduled, worked late when needed, and tried to be a step ahead of the boss in order to keep filing and messages up to date. She felt organized in everyway to help the office run like a well oiled machine. Toss in others who aren’t as efficient but have been employed for many, many years and quite possibly should be retired, you, being so organized and covering your back may just make them look bad and become an enemy, they cant have you making them look bad. There you go, your walking papers.  By the way you can’t even collect unemployment.  It is a lot harder for someone older, like my age to find a new job. You may try a new career but this is also nearly impossible as well to break into. Maybe it is time for the government to lower retirement age again like back in the days of President Carter? This may help stimulate jobs once again. The government wants us to work till the age of 72 for our full retirement benefits, who is to say we will even get it then. I do diverse somewhat for this isn’t my subject.

The saying everyone is expendable rings truer today in this tough jobless country we are calling the USA. Step on someone's toes, bye, bye. It isn’t what you know it is who you know and if you remain in their good favor.

How do you keep high hopes? When there are bills to pay and plans of a celebration has begun. All one can really do is home in on skills they possess and put them to use while hitting the pavement and bombarding the internet with resumes hoping to choose the next job wisely. We at one time interviewed our interviewer to make sure the fit would be right. I know I did in the past when seeking a job change while I was still employed. Had I known then my company was in jeopardy I may have taken their offer. Hinds sights 20/20 there is no going back. We can only move forward, dig in and not allow this to break us. Depression just lands you in bed and before you know it weeks have past by and no results. Stay motivated daily and make finding a new employer the #1 task everyday. Make it your job. Doesn’t pay, but in the end, results start to happen.

Remember an ant can’t move a rubber tree plant but he has high hopes and determination. Find Strength, Passion for life and Faith in your beliefs and your Prayers will be answered 10 fold. These are the only words of Wisdom I can find at this time, for I myself struggle and can only hope one day soon business will pick up, people start shopping once again in fervor so I feel the overload of work so I can bask in the rewards of Financial Freedom once again with no worries of what I spend. I used to be her juggling life and work.

Reproduced

I gained a client about a year ago who had been referred to me by the http://drycleaningstationcolumbe.com . This client has been a customer of theirs’ for many years and was seeking someone who could make a knit dress from a picture she had found in a magazine and a dress that was similar she owned. She called me and I was up for the challenge as I often am. This was the start of a one of a kind business relationship. I often do not make custom garments for the ladies, they are most likely not going to want to pay for a custom garment and tend to be overly picky with the outcome in most cases. More so than when purchasing something off the rack. I choose these customers selectively thru upfront conversation of their expectations to be certain they will not become one big headache. There are few I will make garments for, mostly just friends and family, you can’t make any money off of custom. Custom work isn’t quick, unlike alterations. The time spent on cutting a pattern, measuring and finishing a garment can at times with even the simpless dress can take a day. My first knit dress I reproduced for this client turned out so well I made several for her and sold several more to others. I even wished the style worked for me, for it is oh so cute. It did work out for Teacher Daughter and I fashioned her one for her 21st birthday celebration party. She looked like a Grecian Goddess in it. If only the weather had held up that day to support this sleeveless strappy dress with gold trimming intertwined on the straps. Her touch.The other three were standard colors, one a patterned fabric for a different client. My client is a no frills kind of girl and likes to keep her wardrobe simple. The teal dress was a little of a stretch for her. I played around with the flounce length, for me I like the longer flounce it gives this garment a little more drama.

 

                                                                               

Two weeks ago I received another phone call from this client asking me to make more dresses for her this time from a specific dress that is comfortable and meeting friendly. She was attending a conference for a week and wanted to make packing and dressing for her days away as simple as possible. First stop fabric store, next tear apart the garment to copy for a rough pattern, then hit the sewing machine, serging machine and away we go. First day took the longest nearly 6 hours to create pattern and figure out the perfect way to reconstruct this dress. I rarely need instructions for the construction of a garment, quite often the finished product is not up to manufactures standards. I mainly skim over the steps and change up and shake my head wondering why the pattern maker is making an item more difficult to construct than need be. There are tricks and viable short cuts to be taken without fear of producing an inferior product, and finishes that should be done to ensure this isn’t the outcome. I told my client this would be the process, taking apart one dress to create the others. She said “as long as it isn’t noticeable,” with trepid hesitation. I’m thinking, okay, remember this is me, I wouldn’t suggest it, if it would change the original in any way. When people ask me to do these things I never lead them astray with thinking I have the skills of a pattern maker, because I don’t. I probably could though with all the right tools, such as curved rulers and so on and create my own patterns. But why, when most patterns are readily available. If you can’t find the exact one use several patterns and mix the pieces to come to the desired look you want.

One week later, 2 days time spent, the birth of 3 reproduced garments appeared in basic colors for their trip to a conference and a client being comfortable while attending all day meetings. I liked the garments so much and the ease of construction I will probably make a few for myself, in less basic colors and cute prints. She adored her triplets with the older one and per my suggestion of adding a sleeve has the intentions of having these assembled for the transitional fall. With a little tweaking and adding a detail her and there. One pattern can take on many faces to become one of a kind. I hope one day instead of reproducing a garment for this client, she will entertain the idea of designing something new.

 

                                 

A CONFERENCE UNIFORM OF COMFORT, yet still professional with many options of styling.

I am a little uncomfortable by reproducing, if it isn’t designer can it be considered as counterfeiting? Probably so! Reproductions offer very little gain and are not massively reproduced for resale.

In Memory Of

Saturday happened to be July 31, 2010. This was the day Mrs. Muriel Casassa was born and named Muriel Louise Hansen. I can’t recall how many years it has actually been since this wonderful Woman I had the pleasure of knowing and calling my Mother in Law past away.Not only was she a wonderful Mother in Law she was a terrific Grandmother. She was fun with the children, taught them funny things, played games often with the children, kept them busy, and entertained. When telling the kids we were going to visit Grandma for the weekend they would asked me, “are we going to see White haired Grandma?” That is how they saw her in the short time they knew her. She had the deepest tan and the whitest hair. Just amazingly beautiful. The children songs she sang to the kids were so much fun and funny. What a sense of humor she had. The Grandma I have become is similar in many ways. Thanks to watching her with the kids, I know how to be one. I sing the same songs, teach the same children games, at least the songs I can remember, and teach them to do silly things. Grandbabies are, oh so much fun, the love they return warms the Heart.

I realized while working what the date happened to be and thought about my Mother in Law, telling myself to remind her only Son and my Husband what day it was. Mrs. Casassas’ passing was very hard on her spouse and we are always mindful of reaching out to him on this day. The hours pass and the date did slip my mind, until Teacher Daughter had joined us for dinner that evening and mentioned the date. “Dad she asked have you talked to Grandpa?” He had forgotten the date and reassured her he would contact him later that evening in order to be certain Grandpa wasn’t too depressed. It was so hard on him, that for 2 years in a row he gathered friends and family  to celebrate the day Muriel had been born. It was a little awkward and out of the normal but we were all present and counted for because of the love and kindness recieved from them. We came together in support of a Man who no longer felt whole because of this loss. Rally the troops if you will and help lift a tormented Man up. His life will no longer exist as he knew it to be. For many years his conversations would be about the love he lost and how it should have been him. Most times choaking up while telling his stories of the life he once had. I am not sure why this Family event did not continue on but it was nice seeing everyone together. The Famiiy has grown since last together. Some have married and babies have been born.

 So dinner with Teacher Daughter came to an end, she went home and The Man went to fetch us some dessert. While doing this his eyes were struck by a vision, a subconscious memory. He did not realize this at the time. He made his purchases and home he came. When the Man came thru the door I greeted him and he said I have something for you. From behind his back came a small bouquet of flowers. I said “Wow, yellow roses.” he said “I know they seemed to be calling out to me to get them for you.” You see for as many years as were possible Mr. Casassa gave Muriel a dozen yellow roses every year for her birthday. The Man, my Husband, said as he was driving home and holding the yellow roses for safety, that is when it hit him they were yellow roses, and it was his Mother shining a light on him and guiding him to show me his love on this day. That is how he described it, they were shining a brilliance of light beckoning me to buy them. (Got a little teary eyed as I typed this.) For what ever reason, I love the Yellow Roses.  I myself have often seen signs off and on for years telling me Muriel, my Mother in Law is watching and guiding us on our Journeys in this Life. Hold Dear and cherish your life and your loved ones, for some day all we may have of them are only our Memories.                        .

                                                                                                                   In Your Memory We Celebrate You