Fall Blows in with Whirlwind of Learning!

 Launching Into Retirement With Gusto!

 

So, what have I been doing during nearly six months of retirement? Where do I begin?!? There have been many little adventures, including a meeting with Elvis!

My work with the U.S. Army Materiel Command ended with a fantastic retirement ceremony. The place was packed with well wishers, and both our commander Gen. Ed Daly and our chief of staff Maj. Gen. Walt Duzzny participated in the ceremony (Retirement Ceremony). Gen. Daly, who himself is now retired, was not able to attend but sent a video message that was quite complimentary of my work in support of his priorities. Maj. Gen. Duzzny officiated the ceremony and was also exemplary in all the nice words he said about my work ethic and my support of his work goals.

There were many accolades and awards, and I actually gave a farewell speech without crying! I practiced that speech nearly every day for the month before the ceremony. It was heartfelt and I was committed in its delivering. I wanted to share my philosophy on service and duty and honor, and I didn’t want any tears to get in the way. It did get emotional in a few places and funny in a few others, but I am proud of the way I delivered my message to the family and friends gathered there.

 After that momentous day, my daughter Anna, who traveled from Houston for the ceremony, and I spent a few days together. We took an overnight trip to Chattanooga, visiting the popular aquarium and Rock City. But my very favorite part of that trip was our peaceful walk across the Tennessee River bridge.

That was the first of many trips in those first few months. Since then, I have:

* Spent time with friends and sewed on several projects at a quilt retreat to Camp Maranatha in Scottsboro and a one-day HQH retreat in Huntsville;

* Traveled to South Carolina to see my very best quilting friend Elida (who worked with my at the Army Materiel Command before retiring a year earlier); 

* Took a 35^th wedding anniversary getaway with my husband to a friend’s cabin on Lake Weiss;

* Enjoyed a girl’s trip to the American Quilters Society international quilt show in Paducah, Ky., where I had two quilts in the show:

 

* Visited my daughter Anna in Houston for Mother's Day while her husband came to Birmingham to celebrate his mom on her birthday and Mother's Day and then came home to a steak dinner made by son Tucker;

* Helped son Tucker make improvements at his home, which he bought at the end of January;

* Worked at my home to move my sewing room from a mid-size bedroom to a larger area in our house (pictures of that to come in a later post);

* Watched two batches of House Finches grow and fly their nest from our front porch;

* And, so much more!

Besides working on my own quilting projects, I’ve managed to complete nine baby quilts in these few months for the babies and children of three of Tucker’s squad workers, three former co-workers and Anna’s childhood bestie (More on those in a later post!). My volunteer work includes serving as a vice president for Heritage Quilters of Huntsville and as the Quilt Show co-chair for HQH’s Fanfare 2024. Plus, I lead a 55-member quilting group that gets together a few times every month. Just last week, I presented my very first quilting program for the Madison Station Quilters and totally loved the experience!

 

Phew! I've loved it all! And, I love the idea of having a blog celebrating my quilting, retirement and all the really neat things you can get involved in when there is time to engage. Before I let you go, here's another wildlife photo -- this one of our dog Penny!

 

Hugs and Hope,

Kari