Friday, August 9, 2013

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!!!!

Photo from Yahoo News
Big huge news at Stella Bella Quilts!

News so big that I needed a town crier.

Good thing Will & Kate had their baby and I was able to borrow this guy ----------------------------->
all the way from London.

Who knew that town criers still had jobs in this economy.

Who knew that town criers apparently belong to every house at Hogwarts (check out all those badges).

Who knew that town criers got to wear such fabulous hats.

I may have missed my calling 'cause I way dig that hat.  But I digress....

BIG NEWS ITEM #1

During our recent trip to OBX, S. proposed to me and I said yes!  Yes, it is true, S. is going to be Mr. Stella Bella Quilts.  Our families and friends are overjoyed as they have been waiting and waiting and waiting for this to happen.  After a decade of togetherness, S. and I are making it legal.  We are going to pass on the pageantry of a royal wedding, however, and are just going to have a civil ceremony at some point. Oh yeah and a town crier with an even bigger hat.

S. is overjoyed with his dowry of fifty-eleventeen UFOs, let me tell you.

The cats already consider him one of their staff and they see no change in the situation.


BIG NEWS ITEM #2

Also during the OBX trip, S. had a phone job interview for his dream job in his dream location and after anxious waiting of approximately eternity, which really ended up being a couple weeks, he was offered and accepted the job....

....in Santa Fe, New Mexico!

Poor dear S. had the most stressful vacation ever but it all turned out wonderful and exciting and exhilarating and fabulous.

And this means we are moving from the Southeast to the Southwest....with four cats.

The cats have not been told about the cross-country car trip nor have they been told about changes to their routine let alone moving to a new house that they have never been to.  Let's keep them oblivious for awhile, shall we.

S. will be moving out there in mid-September and I will be following (with the four cats) after I pack up everything and sell my house.  All fingers and toes and cat paws crossed that I can sell my house easily and successfully in this market. 

I have never been to New Mexico or the Southwest so I checked out every book in our county library system and instead of quilting, I've been reading. And researching online. And thinking of the zillions of details and questions and logistics and everything else possible. I am not thinking about goodbyes or leaving my house that I love so much yet.  Just thinking practical for now.


Does Remy know how adorable he is???
I also started the arduous task of sorting, cleaning, packing, etc. of 14 years worth of stuff in my house.  A Herculean task that I have spent 14 years hoping I would never have to do.

Remy, however, is thrilled to have lots of boxes and paper to play with and has proclaimed himself Box Packing Supervisor in Chief.

I am also lamenting the fact that I inherited my mother's love of collecting antiques and dishes.


All the paper is mine and don't even think about trying to get it away from me.

20 comments:

scottylover said...

Congratulations to you both!
Sandy A

ytsmom said...

Congrats on everything. Just think, less humidity. I think you will love Santa Fe. Can someone go with you when you move the cats, so you have some help?

Stitched With Prayer said...

Woooooooo Hoooooooo Gretchen!!! Congratulations sweet friend! I'm overjoyed for you, my heart is doing a happy dance for you and when the swelling in my feet goes down, maybe my feet will join in, LOL. At which time I might add, I will do a Calm the Cats Dance for their cross country travels. I figure my rain dances haven't been working here in Northern Utah so maybe I'll try something new. You'll have to let me know if it worked, *wink*. You will be only a few hundred miles from me when you move to New Mexico, well, 700 give or take. We plan to get down to Albuquerque at some point next summer and we would drive right through Santa Fe...Who knows, maybe I will barge in on you one day (I'll send the town crier in first so as not to startle you) It would be so fun to meet you in person. Even better to have a day of sewing together, why, it boggles the mind! But then, mine is easily boggled these days! Now I'm digressing. Really Gretchen, I am truly so happy for you. If you like red rock country, your going to love the Southwest. The hubs and I make a trip every year to some of the most beautiful red rock country in the nation, Moab, Utah. Gorgeous country. I don't envy you the move! I've lived in the same house for over 33 years now, can you imagine all the clutter I would have to gather and sort through? Ugh! But then, I don't have that handsome Remy to supervise my packing either, but my little deaf Schnauzer who now also has cataracts would surely try to oversee everything if we were to start packing. But sadly, she's not as proficient at the supervision thing as she was when she was young and healthy. Well, I've kept you quite long enough but I gotta tell ya, you had me laughing till tears rolled with your comments about the town crier, especially the Hogwarts badges, LMAO. Big, Big Hugs to you and of course, well,you know the rest of the drill, LOL.
***by the way, you don't have a chance in H*** of getting those papers back from Remy unscathed, LOLOL.

Carol said...

Congratulations Gretchen on all the exciting news in your life...you absolutely needed a town crier to share that information! I'm so, so happy for you!

Nancy Near Philadelphia said...

Oh, Gretchen, this is all just wonderful! What a glorious way to start my day with this terrific news! We have never been to the Southwest, but hope to one day. My friend there tells me it is beautiful and NOT HUMID!!!!

Stitched With Prayer said...

Gretchen, In my long and happy ramblings last night I forgot to give you my thoughts on the question you posed under the picture of Remy in the packing box...I would have to say a resound YES!!! That furry guy knows exactly how devilishly adorable he is, LOL. Though he does a wonderful job of "trying" to look oblivious to his charm and good looks. :o) More Hugs...

Monica said...

Congratulations...most excellent news!

Gari in AL said...

Wow, what a lot of "changes" you have to look forward to. The SW is beautiful and so different from GA. And even though it gets really hot there, there are lots of quilters out there. Will you be getting married before you move? And, will S be able to come back to drive out there with you and the cats? Our cats have traveled well so I'm sure you will have no problems (:-O)

Cathi said...

Congratulations! Such exciting news - no wonder you needed the town crier to announce it!
I hope you find your house sells quickly and that the sorting and packing goes easily.

Susan Davidson said...

Wow! Happy news all around.

sunny said...

Congrats and Congrats!!!! The kitties will adjust in no time, and so will you.

Linda said...

I made the same type of move 26 years ago...new marriage, new job, new part of the country but it didn't involve 4 cats! I think the cats will make it more fun...something to focus on! I'm looking forward to sharing the adventure with you via your blog!

Carol said...

Super good news but you are going to be missed. Keep us posted on your adventures in NM-- which is still part of the US!!!

Sarah said...

Congratulations! Good luck with the move. I live in Australia so no advice on New Mexico, although I think our climate is pretty similar. You won't need your umbrella much and pack lots of sunscreen!

Anita said...

Congratulations to both of you!!

I've read you blog for quite a while. Thankfully you'll still be able to blog!

I'm curious where your husband will be working. My husband travels to Santa Fe periodically for work.

Enjoy the entire process!

Stitched With Prayer said...

Hi Gretchen, you were in my thoughts this morning and I just wanted to stop in and tell you that I'm hoping everything is going along well, and as stress free as big changes and moving can possibly be. Keeping you in my prayers for safe travels for all, Humans AND Furry kids alike! Big, Big Hugs...

dianne said...

as if there isn't already ENOUGH excitement in your life!!! best wishes and congratulations ... Santa Fe is not even a little bit humid - you're gonna miss rain, lemmetellya!!!

Sinta Renee said...

HI Gretchen! So so much exciting news... far surpasses the royal birth! I am so excited for you and your honey! I am thrilled to hear all about the new adventure... the wedding plans, the moving plans, and all the rest! Congratulations!

Unknown said...

nice

Unknown said...

good cat