Well, I have the most amazingly talented cousin in the world, my cousin Pat Parson, who lives just outside Charleston. She sent me the MOST gorgeous quilt! She had told me she was making me a small one, last fall, and asked what colors I liked, etc.
I was thinking she would send something the size of a small throw, but this is a really generous size, and it perfectly fits with the crab theme! I cannot remember when I've gotten a gift that was more delightful. The past few months have not been too happy, and this really boosts my spirits.
I love how she did the crabs with button eyes!
Look at the adorable backing, too - more crabs!
She also included two additional gifts which were very thoughtful, some tea made in Charleston [I am a tea person, can't wait to try it] and a cookbook of Charleston recipes!
I love cookbooks!
Pat's mama, Fleta, was my dad's first cousin, and she was a good bit older, and more like a big sister to him. Fleta and her family were the only cousins on the Thompson side of the family that Dad was really close to throughout his life.
Fleta was a twenty-something and living in Cordele in the summer of 1937 [I think that was the year] when my grandfather played and managed the Cordele baseball team that summer. Fleta's husband Woody was one of the players on that team. Mamaw and Papa and the kids lived in a boarding house that summer, and Fleta actually babysat my mother sometimes; Mom was around 3 or 4. They figured that out years later. It's quite likely that Dad rode over to Cordele with his family that summer, and he probably met Mom. He was 4 years older. He said he didn't remember it. Doesn't matter. The families were connected. Years later, my grandfather enjoyed talked to Woody about that summer.
Anyway, through the magic of Facebook, Mom and I have re-connected with Pat and her sisters Pam and Kay. What a blessing.
Pat and husband Buddy in the summer of 2012, when they stopped in for a visit. Pat has grandchildren now.
Huge thanks to Pat for her incredibly thoughtful gift. I know Dad and Fleta are smiling down from heaven...
