This time last year, I was gathering up the 100 plus cards made for my Great Aunt Caroline's 100th birthday and heading down to Florida for the birthday bash. She was to turn 101 on the 26th, this week. I have my plane tickets ready to go, so I could be there for the big day.
Sadly, I got a call today, saying that she passed away last night. I'm still traveling to Florida this week, but now it is for a funeral instead.
She was a gracious and classy lady who could really tell a story and had a lot of stories to tell. I'm so sorry that I won't get to hear another one from her.
Thanks again to all of you who sent cards last year. They were a huge hit at her party! If you'd like to see the cards that generous readers made for Caroline, click here.
Today, I am also remembering my dad. I love this old photo of him from my scrapbook. He sent it to me years ago, with a note on the back telling me how many crappies he'd caught at his favorite fishing hole.
Its been an up and down Father's Day weekend for us. Lots of fun times, out on the lake, but also the sadness of losing Caroline and remembering Dad. But we had a frightening moment too, when Sugarwing's mom told us she had been snacking on mushrooms growing in the yard! After calling poison control, we were told to bring in a sample of the mushrooms to the ER (and the baby led us directly to them in her mommy's yard).
A mushroom expert examined them and said they weren't poisonous, but the Dr. had Sugarwings drink charcoal in chocolate milk.
She's fine now, just a few tummy rumbles here and there. It could have been much worse, I shiver just thinking about anything bad happening to my fairy grand baby! She doesn't even LIKE mushrooms, and will not eat them on her plate. What goes through kid's heads when they put stuff like that in their mouths? Or noses for that matter, she had a big marble up her nose yesterday too.
I told her to never, ever, ever eat mushrooms out of the grass, because then the fairies will not have any place to sit.
I hope all of you are having a good Father's Day, and hopefully one less eventful than ours.
Karla, I am so sorry to hear of your loss of your precious Aunt. Prayers lifted for you and your family as you go thru this difficult time. Thank goodness that your precious grandbaby was ok!!! It truly is amazing what they will put in their mouth and up their little noses! I too am remembering my Father today. I sure do wish he were around so that I celebrate with him today.
May God hold you gently in the palm of His hand as you walk through this tender time of grief…May God give your peace for your heart and strength for your soul…and sharing in the memory of a precious Dad, gone home to be with the Lord for 23 years now….Blessings ~
thinking of you karla. your aunt would be so proud of you along with your dad. take care and we’ll see you when you get back from florida. hugs sweetie.
My thoughts are with you and your family Karla . Take care Donna xo
My heart goes out to you Karla. Sorry to hear of your loss. Your aunt lived a long wonderful life though and is now in a much better place than any of us are! AND, she will get to see your dad 🙂
Karla,
Thinking of you and your family during the loss of a special lady. Hope you have safe travels. So happy little Sugarwings is well after the scare!!
My thoughts are with you……Jo
I am so sorry to hear about your Aunt Caroline. I enjoyed making a card for her last year. I wish you safe travels as you head to FL. Also…so glad little Sugarwings is okay! That is scary…but glad things are better for her now!
Karla,
You are in my thoughts as your family celebrates the life of an exceptional woman as she returns to the fold.
Pattie 😉
Mazatlan Mx.
I’m so sorry to hear about Aunt Caroline but so glad you were able to give her such a great 100th birthday party.
I think Miss Leandra is taking the organic thing a little too far- thank goodness she’s ok and smiling a kind of scary smile.
I am very sorry about your Aunt. Its hard to loose someone even when your head tells you she had a great life, because your heart aches at the thought of not seeing them again. I am also so glad Sugarwings is okay. I swear you never know what a little one will do, do you? She still had that big beautiful smile on her face even if there was a little of oozing black.
Take care,
Jean in virginia
I am sorry for your aunt’s loss.. for sure shes on her new place right now..
take care
You will be in my thoughts and prayers. Life in precious, and giving up loved ones is so difficult. Thankfully, you will have wonderful memories. May they comfort you. Ellie
Dear Karla: You write so much about Sugarwings, I feel I know her. I am so sorry for that scare. I just can imagine how you felt. Thank God, she is ok. I am also so sorry for your aunt’s loss. I pray God will comfort you and your family thought this time. Take care, Martha
Karla, I’m so sorry to hear of the loss of your great aunt Caroline. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
I’m glad to hear that Sugarwings is okay. Kids can sure give us a scare!
Debi
oh no! I’m so sorry Karla! I know you made her day so special last year because of the effort you went through……how she must have cherished that!
Poor sugarwings! Kids will eat the weirdest things……I love what you told her!
PS
I think the caption on that photo of her should say “I’m not crazy anymore”! LOVE that picture!
karla,
wow, you’ve had some week. you and your family will be in my prayers.
meleen
My heart goes out to you Karla. I am happy that I was able to give your aunt a card on her 100th.
And wild mushrooms? I would have freaked out. I am SO glad they were not poisonous.
I get to read the post about your Aunt. Even remembered on your previous post how you wanted Sugarwings to meet her. You have 3 memorable events happening. but you are still blessed. The special moments you shared with your Aunt and your father will always be in your memories and though sometimes it saddens us that our love ones are not here with us. And glad that sugarwings is ok too. That was certainly a scary thought.
My thoughts and prayers for you Karla. XOXOXOXO
Dear Karla,
I am so sorry for your loss. Please know
that you and your family are in my thoughts
and prayers. It is so hard to lose our
loved ones.
Thankfully, Sugarwings will be alright.
It must have been very frightening for
everyone.
She is at the age where she is intrigued
by everything and I pray that she will
have her special Angels watching over her
at all times.
Blessings and Hugs,
Janis
Bless your heart, I bet you are emotionally drained! You are in our prayers this week.
Blessings~LillySue
I had such a great time making a card for your Aunt Caroline’s 100th birthday last year, and am so sorry to hear about your loss. Please accept my condolences.
~S.
Oh Karla! i can’t believe such terrible news… what a wonderful memorable life she led, all 100 years though. a major accomplishment in itself. My thoughts and prayers are with yuo and yor family.
xoxo, Tiffany
You are so blessed to have had your lovely Great Aunt for so very long. It mkaes the amazing gifts from last year even more special. What a way to celebrate your last birthday. You made it so wonderful for her and are to be commended for being such a sweet niece.I believe that line from Ghost is true “the love, you take it with you”.It was something like that. My love to you and yours dear Karla.
Karla!
I am so sad at this news. It was an honor to make a card last year for your beautiful Aunt. I’m sending you comforting thoughts.
Hugs!
Nancy
Oh Karla,
My thoughts are with you and your family.
Have a safe trip.
Thinking of you,
Big Hugs,
Anna
My heartfelt condolences to you and your family. Saying goodbye will always be hard. It is sad that you cannot hear her stories of the past anymore. Of course we all have to go at a certain point in our life. I cannot help thinking that this is a good way to go, first celebrating your 100th birthday with a fav cousin (yes you were, you know that) and then sneaking out before you have another birthday and all that fuss. If I could sign a contract to die, I would love to sign such one as your aunts. Karla, I’m not talking in my native language neither do I know your cultural luggage with death, but I do hope that my good intentions will comfort you. This will be a day of sad memories but a day with hope too, as Sugarwings did eat the mushrooms and they didn’t harm her, pfffff what a relief…you don’t want to think….no I just don’t want to. Thinking of you, take care!
Oh Karla I am so sorry to hear of Great Aunt Caroline’s passing. It was such fun creating her 100th Birthday card last year.
Goodness Karla, what an eventful weekend. I’m sorry to hear of the passing of your Aunt. What an amazing age to live to – we should be so lucky!!
Sugarwings sure keeps you all on your toes. That was a close call and I hope that charcoal has put her off eating mushies again.
Thinking of you,
Hugs ~ Kerryanne
Karla, I am so sorry about your Aunt Caroline. May God give you comfort and peace during this time. I am so glad that Sugarwings is alright!!
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Dear Karla, I am so sorry to hear about your Aunt Caroline. How happy you must be that you helped make her last birthday such a special one for her. My thoughts and prayers go with you as you travel for her funeral.
Karla,
I am so sorry to hear about your dear aunt…
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this very sad time.
I am glad that your little Sugarwings is ok…
What a scare…
Take care,
Louise
How wonderful, that you have all your beautiful aunt’s stories….and the happy memory of special moments shared with your Dad, to help fill the void left by their passing. Losing the people who represent a CONSTANT in our lives, is never easy.
I’m glad that Sugarwings is safe!
Wishing you comfort and peace,
Kay
Hi Karla…so sorry about your Aunt. I will keep you & your family in my prayers.
I’m very happy that your granddaughter is well..love that picture of her drinking the chocolate milk!! It’s really cute that you told her that the fairies wouldn’t haven’t any where to sit if she ate the mushrooms!lol
Hugs,
Sherry
Sorry to hear about your Aunt….nearly 101~that is amazing! And she looked wonderful at her 100 year birthday party.
Not many can say that.
Hope you have a very safe trip this week.
Chas
Karla,
What a week end you’ve had! Sorry to hear of your beloved Aunt passing, she’s in a better place now. No pain or suffering. She can now become a guardian angel for Sugarwings. Kids can get themselves into such trouble so innocently. Luckily she told someone what she had eaten. I think they all go that phase. Sorry that your trip to Florida will be a sad one. Just know that we are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.
Sandy
I am so sorry to hear about your Aunt passing.
And I am so glad that Sugarwings is okay after eating the yard musrooms! Very Scarey! Why do they have to put everything they find into their mouths?!
Dear Karla,
I am so sorry to hear about your sweet Aunt. My thoughts are with you.
But I am so glad to hear that Sugarwings is fine after the mushroom incident! All that and memories of your father make for an emotional weekend.
Hugs,
Claudia
So sorry to hear that your Aunt passed away.
I was one of those who sent a card last year…I will remember it always because I had just started blogging and this was one of the first things I participated in.
As always Karla…I love your blog,your sugarwings, and your unique style 🙂
Karla – I am so very sorry about your Aunt. I have seen you post about her before and she certainly was an amazing woman. My condolences to you and your family.
And oh my goodness Miss Sugarwings!! When I saw the picture before I read the post I could not IMAGINE what she was drinking! Thank heavens she is OK!!
Much love,
Susan
I am so sorry Karla and almost to her birthday too. Well that just stinks. And then fairy grand baby eating the shrooms. Yikes. I thought my air travel was a nightmare but you win:) That drink looks hideous. Take care and hold you family close.
My condolences on the passing of your Aunt. I too lost an Aunt this week, though mine was far younger. Prayers for a safe trip.
Very glad Sugarwings mushroom experience turned out so well ~ yikes at the things kids will do!
Dear Karla
Sorry to hear about your aunt Caroline…i remember last year and all the wonderful cards that you posted about. At least you have the many memories and stories about this great lady to last on.
And, thank heavens your fairy grandbaby is okay – i love that picture of her with her “black teeth” smile! lol – So glad she’s alright!
Have a very “uneventful” rest of your week
XOXO Rochelle
Karla,
Your Aunt Caroline looks so lovely and so gracious. I am sorry to hear about her passing…sad especially for those of you who are still here. I remember you posting her birthday card celebration. What an incredible event for her…you can just see the joy on her face in the picture.
As for Sugarwings, what a little dickens! I had to laugh at the picture of her smiling as she sips her charcoal drink!
Remembering you in my prayers…
Suz
Karla,
So sorry to hear of your Aunt’s passing. I, too, had a great Aunt that loved to over 100. She passed away at 101! Still as scrappy and spry as when she was a kid. She went to sleep and didin’t wake up. We thought perhaps she decided she was done.
I remember last year when we all sent cards for your Aunt. Very sorry to read the sad news.
On another note::: my puppy likes mushrooms in the yard too. I try to get to them first thing in the morning, but she is so quick. Yesterday she did eat one and got sick. All over the kitchen floor. You cannot tell her to let them alone, what is a Mom to do???
Hi How are you! fantastic post! just beautiful and so cute your family!
xoxo
So sorry to hear of the loss of your Aunt, I’m honoured that I was able to join in and make a card for her 100th birthday celebrations.
I’m glad to hear that Sugarwings mushroom eating ended well and love that you told her the fairies wouldn’t have anywhere to sit if she ate them
Victoria xxx
I’m so sorry to hear about your Aunt Caroline. My heart goes out to your whole family. Thank you so much for allowing us all to participate in her 100th birthday celebration. I just loved seeing the picture of her with all of her cards!
As you remember the stories she’s told you through the years, maybe you can write them down for Sugarwings to enjoy as she grows up too. They would make a precious memory book for her.
And my goodness, that mushroom story is about as scary as they come! They get into the darndest things when they’re little!…glad she’ll be just fine.
Ah, God has claimed his wonderful Caroline. So many in Heaven must have been there to greet her. You were all so blessed to share lives with such a grand person, and I know she must have adored you.
I was remembering and missing my daddy, too.
Thank God Sugarwings is fine. Those babes of ours can sure scare us, can’t they?!
I am so sorry to hear about your Aunt Caroline. Glad Sugarwings is OK. Will be keeping you and your family in prayer.
Hugs 🙂
Irma
Hello, Karla; I am saddened for you and your family on the loss of Great Aunt Caroline.
(((((hugs)))))
So glad Sugarwings is okay!! Whew!!
We have mushrooms in our woods, and the neighbors hunt them, but I’m too afraid I wouldn’t know the good from the bad!
🙂
~Becca~
My sincere condolences to you and to your family Karla on this news about your beloved aunt.
I bid you peace.
Take care.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Its sounds as if Caroline was a wonderful woman and its so amazing that she had such a full and fabulous life. I wish you safe travels.
Thank goodness about the grand baby. That had to be hugely scary. Wishing you some much needed peace and hugs!
Hi Karla: Just checking in on Sugarwings. Is she feeling better? I prayed for her yesterday. My grandson, Noah today scared me with a mouth full of paper clips. They sure know how to keep your heart pumping, don’t they? Martha
I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. Your aunt seemed like such a special and unique woman.
Thinking about Sugarwing’s adventure . . . led me to think that the huge mushrooms that grow in the yard look so much better than the ones we buy to eat. The ones in the yard look like big fluffy marshmallows that have been lightly toasted around the edges and they feel so nice. Maybe that’s why they looked good enough to eat.
~elaine~
Hello Karla,
I am so sorry to hear of Caroline’s passing. She certainly was loved. Me Great Grandfather almost made it to 101 also. for his 100th Birthday we had huge celebration at his farm.
Ok, sugar wings!!! I agree what are they thinking!!!? I was just thinking about Art Linkletter’s show with the part “kid’s say the darnedest things”. Did you ever see it? I think I saw reruns??? I loved it. Those kids would have had some great answers for us!
SOOO happy Sugar Wings is fine!
Hugs,
Mary
Karla, I’m so sorry to hear about your grandmother. What a lovely tribute you gave her last year to mark a milestone few of us will ever see!
I’m glad your granddaughter was all right!
Oh so sorry for your loss. May God bless you with sweet memories.
Karla, from my heart, I truly am sorry for the loss of your beautiful aunt. I remember the posts about the 100 cards for her. They made me cry, we thought we were going to get to do something special like that for my abuelita (grandma) but sadly we lost her at 93. Some how I really believed in my heart we would have her long after I was gone. At least I hoped. Fathers Day was the same for us here, we just lost my dad this March 14, we had a double whammy this last weekend, it was our first Fathers Day without him and his Birthday was the very next day, yet we still had to honor the other dads in our lives. Even though life has to go on, it can be bittersweet sometimes. But on a brighter note, your lil fairy grandbaby, is so beautiful. I like everyone else am so relieved that she is ok. I love seeing how much you adore her. She is so loved and such a tiny beautiful soul. Her eyes seem to show an old soul though. She is your saving grace in times of pain, like our new baby nephew is ours. I see bits of my dad in him. He would have been his first great grandson. Karla, Take care and my wish for you is that the next few months be eased by the love of those you love and love you.
Karla, I am sorry for your loss. You will be in my prayers. Making a card for her last year was one of my first real blogging experiences. Your thoughtfullness touched me so much. What a great 100th Birthday.
Oh and Sugarwings with the mushrooms will be a great story to tell her later 😉
Oh Karla, it broke my heart to hear of the passing of your dear Aunt. I am sure she is now waiting for you in a beautiful place and keeping watch over you and yours.
I am so glad SW is okay. I worry about that too with my 2 year old. We often have deadly nightshade pop up and I am afraid if I don’t catch it, she’ll eat the berries….
I am so sorry to hear about your aunt. You are in my thoughts. She seemed like a wonderful lady. I am glad everything was peaceful for her.
Oh my goodness, you poor thing. I’m so glad Sugarwings is ok. I can’t imagine what an awful scare that must have been for you all.
And I’m so sorry about your aunt. She sounds like a wonderful woman, and what an amzing life she lived, enjoying over a century!
Sending you a big hug, Karla.
xoxo
Hi Karla, sorry to hear this sad news about your beautiful Aunt. And a scare from Sugarwings too? Oh my, when it rains it pours. Hope your trip goes smoothly and you return home awash in lovely memories of a lovely woman-
Laura
xxx
Hallo Karla, and sorry for your lost!
Sorry for the lateness, I am just now catching up on blogs. I am so sorry to hear about your aunt. As devoted as you were to her, I can tell she must have been one heck of a lady.
On the Sugarwings side of life, glad things turned out as they did.
Still loving your blog, btw. I look forward to all the great pics! BTW, how do you get your name on them? I’d love to figure that one out!
Well take care and God Bless.