My signature is sooooo true!

[Pepper]

I know some of you folks read my signature and can't possibly fathom how true it is. So, tonight I can tell a story that will demonstrate!

This afternoon Quilt Lady, DRH, GHfromAltonBay and IslandGirl (with a very nice guest) came to Waldo's for lunch. They come as a group quite often, and usually try to plan their visits during a time when I will be able to sit and chat with them for a while. So, when I received an email the other day letting me know they'd be coming, and would I have time to visit, I happily emailed back that for sure I'd make time to visit with them.

So after they'd had time to eat, I sat with them, and Quilt Lady opened up her quilt bag to show me the absolutely beautiful quilt she'd made for the FFIII raffle. As I'm oogling this wonderful quilt (and plotting in my mind how many tickets I need to buy to have a chance at winning this quilt)and I'm asking her about her tecniques, and how long does it take, and what parts are machine-done, and which parts are hand-quilted ... All the while she's happily answering my questions, and folding up the quilt, and showing me various features on the "white-side" so I can see the hand-stitching, etc. Well, somewhere in the middle of all those questions, and all her answers, she very cleverly switched quilts. Suddenly she's showing me a hand-stitched message on the back, and it says "To Barbara in memory of Mary, from Don and Peg Hughes". As the reality of what was happening hit me, I found myself unable to speak ~ partly because I was dumbstruck, and partly because the tears flowing down my cheeks had conspired with the lump in my throat to make words inaudible.

As I unfolded this absolutely incredible specimen of handiwork, QuiltLady began to explain to me that she had chosen my favorite color, green, as the base, and incorporated lots of pink because I lost my sister to breast cancer. She then presented me with a very special document which describes the "birth" of this quilt, and why she chose the pattern, appropriately titled "Sister's Choice". It goes on to describe more features of the quilt, but one paragraph in particular speaks volumes about the warmth and love of the people on this forum. It reads: The four connected hearts in the center of each block made me think of how we are all connected to one another by love. The cable design in the border represents the ties we have to each other, no matter the distance. The quilt itself is meant for you to wrap yourself in the hugs of all who know and love you.

QuiltLady and DRH - your kindness, generosity, and love warm my heart to it's very core. GH and IG, co-conspirators in today's gift, I'm so glad you two were there to share in the presentation of this very special gift. And to all four of you, I'm really glad you decided to make that special trip, because I wouldn't have wanted everybody at FFIII to see me cry like that!

So very many truly wonderful friends I have made because of this forum!!!!!

BTW - QL ~ I'm wrapped up in the hug quilt, and Oh WOW!!!!!! Niiiiiiice. A million thanks!