Dear Mom,

So.  Paolo has cleaned and oiled the second sewing machine you had.  The one that I thought didn't work, but does, and is supposed to be perfect for quilting.

I'm really excited to try it and actually really excited that my first project on it will be Tink's quilt.  That seems fitting.  Two amazing, important women in my life and I get to honor them both.  You, for having unknowingly given me this new creative outlet, and Tink for asking me to make a quilt for her.  It's nice to think of something that I make being wanted in someone's home.  That may sound silly, but I don't know if people realize what a compliment it is.

It occurred to me that I never showed you the final picture of the redone chairs.

I'm sure you may have heard the colorful language that accompanied the process, and let me just say, thank God I had Paolo to help.  I can't fathom how I would have done them on my own.

I have to say, that's the first time I've done a project, known that I was pretty much erasing something that you'd done, and I wasn't sad about it.  I think you would have approved.  Actually, I don't think it, I know it.  Remember how hard those chairs were?  Now we all have cush for our bums.  SO nice, especially on holidays and at dinner parties.

Speaking of, I'm having Julie, Michelle, and their respective families over for dinner tomorrow and I cannot wait!  I'm so excited.  Michelle and I reconnected a while ago, and we have unknowningly lived in the same town for the past several years and not realized it.  Thanks to Ellington for being a soccer town and us for signing up our boys because that's how we met again.  I'm looking forward to seeing Julie again too.  It's almost...full circle when your past meets your present.  How everyone is "adults" (ha ha) and has children of their own...it's almost surreal.  Kind of like when Tyran calls me for parenting advice.

Now that's a baby I wish you could have met.  Trent is ADORABLE.  That kid gets cuter every day and I highly doubt that will stop.

Anyway!  Time to sew.

Love,

Kathryn