October Classmate Dinner...

Back row: l-r Tom, Max, Donna, Brad, Al, Cal, Dan and John. Front Row: l-r Janet, Kathy, Deb B, Julie, Deb N. and Mary

Fourteen of us gathered to share a meal last night. We had a great time, catching up on the events of the past month, and welcomed new classmates to the group. Our reunion committee members are the core group - who attend as schedules allow - and then there are other classmates who drop in from time to time. It was really wonderful to see folks who hadn't joined us before, but saw the posts I put up in our Facebook group and decided to pop in.

We spend a couple hours together, laugh, share stories, and eat our meals. Afterward, we choose our next month's date, hugs are exchanged, and we say goodbye until we're together again. It really is lovely, and we mentioned that when we're all together, we're really all just kids again. We don't see the gray hair, extra wrinkles or pounds, and our joints aren't quite as sore. We're just old friends who look forward to our visits.

So, we've chosen next month's date - the week before Thanksgiving. We're all here and relatively healthy, and the way time flies these days, we'll see each other again before we know it.

Happy Halloween to my friends who celebrate. Happy Fall to those who don't.

Dinner With Old Friends...

Our school reunion committee from last year enjoyed being together so much that we try to get together monthly now. We had a smaller group yesterday, as others had prior commitments, but we managed to bring in another school pal who wanted to reconnect. We've already set the date for next month, and hope others will be able to join us again.

(Front row: l-r Cal, Brad, Deb, Julie and Mary. Back row: Janet, Jay (Max), Bruce and me.)

I did manage to stitch during the day, and finished the outline on another frog. One more to go, which I'll do before I have to go to work for a few hours. I'll get the rest of the details done this weekend, and then I can start filling them in with all the sparkly bits. I'll share my progress photos soon.

I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend! See you tomorrow.

Friday Night Mixer...

 

This will be a quick post today as I'll be off and running early today. Lots to do before this evening's celebration. I'm going to the bakery to pick up our sheet cake and cupcakes, and then heading to the venue to help the committee with set up for tonight.

Last night's mixer was a huge success! We had over 100 people there. Everyone engaging with old school chums, and reminiscing. It was wonderful, and many stayed until after 10 pm. Handsome and I left around 9:30. I'd been greeting each classmate and was starting to get a scratchy throat from all the conversation, so it was time to go home to a hot cuppa tea with honey, and then off to bed.

There were a group of us from the old neighborhood and grade school, so we got one of our mates to take a picture of all of us together. Some traveled great distances to be here. l-r: Dennis from CA, Dave from TN, me, my BFF Cyd from GA, Dick from Fond du Lac, Dan from Fond du Lac, and Chip from MN. 

More of "Old Home Week" on Monday. I'll see about getting more photographs to share with you. I really didn't have time to take any myself, so I'll see what we can come up with from the group. Gotta run!

I Haven't Forgotten...

Stitching Silk Butterfly Wings

 

I haven't forgotten about this project. (This is my Red Spotted Purple Butterfly project from my studies with The Royal School of Needlework in Kentucky.)  I've been busy in other directions, but finally decided to sit and stitch yesterday afternoon.

 

Silk Threads

 

I'm using single strands of silk threads, so this is going to take a little while. I will say, that it's extremely restful and satisfying working on these wings. I'll update as I continue working on each wing. I just didn't want you to think I forgot about it.

 

 

My class reunion is tonight. I'm looking forward to seeing old friends. I'm working at the registration table, so I'll get to see everyone as they come in. Hard to believe I graduated decades ago. I still feel as though it were just yesterday. Okay...almost just yesterday. It's going to be a great time!

 

Memory Lane Monday - My First Day of School...

Welcome to another Memory Lane Monday. Although school has already been in session for nearly a month, I didn't think you'd mind if I wrote a "First Day of School" post. (I found my old photo in my desktop computer once I got back home.)

Many of you know that I was born in Great Britain to a British mother and American (Air Force) father. When I was about two, we moved to Wisconsin (my father was from Stevens Point - the home of the beer!), so we were there for a few years so that he could finish college to become a teacher.

His first teaching job was in Elkhorn, Wisconsin - and he and I started our first day of school together at the same school. Mum told me the "rules" about becoming a kindergartner ('mind your teacher', 'pay attention in class', 'have fun' and 'be a good girl for Mummy'), but I was only given one rule by my father ('Remember, now, don't call me "Daddy" when we're in school. You should call me "Mr. Newby" like the rest of the students.') Yup. My maiden name was "Newby", pronounced just like the popular term for someone new to something these days - a "newbie". Turns my head every time I hear it used. 

So, then. Mum kissed me goodbye and off to school I went. (Mum told me that she cried and cried when I told her that she didn't need to walk me to the door. "It's ok, Mummy. I'm a big girl. I can do it myself. I guess I've been this way all my life!) I was a good girl, paid attention to my teacher, made a few friends, never called my father "Daddy" in school, and sailed through kindergarten with flying colors.

Between my kindergarten year and my first day of first grade, my father took a job in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin and my parents purchased their first home. We moved from Elkhorn to a rental until we moved into our new home, but we were all settled in time for first grade. 

All through kindergarten, Mum had been trying to help me get rid of a serious lisp, but despite her best efforts, I carried it with me right into first grade. For years, she's repeated the story of me coming home from my first day of first grade only to run up to her and say, "Mummy. I'm in firsssst grade now, and I don't lisssp anymore." She said she wanted to strangle me. (She had been trying to help me get rid of that lisp for more than a year, after all. lol)  Glad we got past that!

Do you have a story you'd like to share for Memory Lane Mondays? Just write your story on your blog and link back here. You'll have until a week from now (October 2nd - Gosh! It's nearly October already?) to add your memory.