When one turns 60, all of a sudden things begin to look weird.  Up until Tuesday, I was still in my 50’s. The 50’s are a fabulous decade, as the kids are mostly out of the house, most of the college bills are behind you, and you get to experience Empty Nest Syndrome.

Well, for us, it meant that we started Quilted Twins.

Sixty had always previously been a long ways off. In fact, in June, it seemed like “forever” until I left the decade of my 50’s.

But this year, the date happened to fall on a Tuesday, which means, a double whammy. I get “old” and the store is also open.

So, instead of hiding from the issue, Becky and I decided to celebrate it!

This is what WE did here in Dade City.

For at least 4 days prior, my Son #2, Peter, kept telling me “Happy Birthday.” He said that he wanted to be first.

So, I got my greetings early. Then, when I got up, the greeting on Facebook started. Then, the emails poured in. All of which we do thank you!

At the store, I wanted to do more than celebrate with the things that Becky told you about in the blog, but I also wanted to give you some cupcakes. So, I stopped by our local Publix and picked up some pretty cupcakes and got to the store and set them up for everyone.

I had put up my “standard” Dollar Tree streamer the night before, we’d have at least one thing that said, “Happy Birthday” on it.

Becky and I had previously decided to celebrate with two main things –for a solid week, we’d give everyone who purchased something a handy tape measure, that we normally sell for $1 (I know, big wow, right?) but it is nice to have a small one for your purse or even the glove compartment of your car.

Then, we decided, that since we were turning 60, to play off the 60 and if a customer hit the big 6-0, as in $60 worth of goodies, that you’d get a free yard of a Riley Blake solid. I had purchased a boat load of these, it seems a few months ago, and while not watching, they’ve been hatching out more solids. So, I wanted to share some of the solids with you all, since they seem to be growing and hatching out more down in the Chop Shop.  My husband has been helping me lay them out onto my 27 foot table, and we cut them into the 1 yard pieces.

Sarah wished me Happy Birthday around 9:10 a.m. (She’s Daughter #1, but then again, she’s our only daughter.)

Then, the store opened.

People started pouring in. I was passing out Birthday Dollars to everyone wishing me a “Happy Birthday.” People were eating cake. (It was ironic that the first child to get a cupcake dropped hers onto the carpet, and got beautiful blue frosting on our carpet.)  After that I carefully ushered all children to the back room with their colorful cupcakes, where later, I was able to clean up all that frosting and cake mess!

Around 10 a.m., while in the midst of helping answer what seemed to be a bazillion questions, the front door opened and in walked Brenda, one of our employees, with two huge balloons that spelled 6-0, and a host of smaller helium filled balloons.

Nora, age 3, decided to wear the dress that I had made for her that day, plus help by holding my helium filled balloons!

Shortly thereafter, the front door opened again and in came the entire crew from the Sewin’ Shop (another unit in our strip mall, where they were down working and sewin’ away!)

They were carrying a beautiful cake, some flowers and a lovely card. They sang a wonderful rendition of “Happy Birthday” and gave me the flowers, cake and card.

After pictures and thank you’s and hugs, we went back to selling fabric and laughing a lot!

While we were answering questions, cutting fabric, finding just the right color for people who needed color matching or to find a fabric that came out three years ago, my husband slipped away, and he and my son-in-law and my son, were back at my house finishing up my birthday present from my husband. He was putting up a beautiful awning for my car. I think you could call it a carport. It was too fancy and permanent to just call it an awning.

He sent us all a picture sometime late morning, with a picture of it – all finished! It’s lovely, practical and works to keep the rain and sun off of my van and out of my seats! (Ken had started it a week or so ago, but needed more than 2 hands to get some of the roof parts on, etc.)

I got to test it out on Wednesday afternoon, when I came home in the pouring down rain and it kept me quite dry!

Around 12:15, Son #3 in Ohio (Steven), called. He and Alli wished me Happy Birthday. We chatted a bit. I couldn’t talk long because the store was open and I had to stay visible to pass out Birthday Dollars!

Then, after the customers left, around 1:30 p.m., I got a chance to eat my lunch (leftovers from Monday night supper), clean up the cupcakes, put away the display table, sweep up the floor, and then I had to tackle the horrific mess of the frosting and cake left on the floor in the kitchen by the 5 grandgirls and grandnieces. There really is something gratifying in taking a horrible mess and straightening it up, mopping it, sweeping and setting it aright! (And knowing it will stay that way for at least 20 hours!)

Picking up old dead crayons, cupcake wrappers, and mopping up frosting isn’t exactly something most people would think was a good birthday afternoon activity, but I found it great! It was SIMPLE to do because there were no children around. They had all gone home to the mothers. Though they had offered to clean up the mess, I needed the children gone in order to be able to accomplish the task. So, I got that all done. There’s also something VERY wonderful about being able to have your grandchildren and your sister’s grandchildren with you for half of the day at your store, not wondering if someone is hurting, molesting or abandoning them! It’s a peace of mind that outranks making money or any other thing in the child-rearing department!

About the time I got that done, Ken showed up and we went and prepared MORE solid color yards for  you all who order online. We had to have more ready for Sarah to use in online preparation.

Finally, I was able to head out, around 5:30. My daughter has asked if I had wanted to come and eat pizza and swim at my son’s pool, but I said, “No.” (Not that I didn’t want to, but I didn’t have time.)

My mom had already asked me to come over, so she could give me her present to me. I also HAD to take her some of that delicious looking chocolate cake I knew she would LOVE IT!

She gave me a beautiful peridot ring with diamonds around the stone. It’s gorgeous. (Should I tell Becky she gave me two rings — one for her and one for me, that I was to keep the one I wanted first and give Becky the other.. I’m still deciding! )

Then Ken took me to the place of MY choice for supper. I had never been to Chipotle since it had come to our town. In fact, I’d been only once in my life, at least 10 years earlier. So, we popped on in there, and had a delicious bowl of goodness, which lasted for another meal for me, too!

While we were eating at Chipotle, Son #1 called (Andy and Emma) and talked to us both while we were enjoying the treat of Chipotle.

This picture is of Emma, now 8 months pregnant, but taken last month, when she was just 7 months pregnant, with our son #1, Andy. They live in NYC.

Gotta love video chat, which is now available. We were to chat while we ate supper.

Then, and only then, could I come home, settle in to add new packs to the site, write my daily email and then take inventory off the site that we’d sold that day.

I was extremely weary by the time the bed called me, but all in all, it was tons of fun, tons of work, and quite memorable!

I have an incredible amount to be thankful for – a twin sister who is willingly doing all that work that I dumped on her, over there in Poland, and a group of people around me who support me and help me with all of my crazy ideas!

We’ll take on 60 – one day at a time. Who knows what this will hold? I know that the Lord leads me each day, and all He ever asks of me is for me to take each day, minute by minute.

Thank for being a part of this day, if you were in it by reading this blog post, by stopping in the store, by buying something online or just by being friendly, waving hello, and liking a post!

Looking forward to the wonderful year ahead of me!

Be sure to check out what my sis has for you in the store here!

Feel free to browse the site.