I can understand how important quilting bees were to our foremothers...it's a time to work together but also share in each other's lives.

And laugh.

A LOT of laughing!

These four special ladies may be along in years and wisdom, but they sure giggle like schoolgirls when they're together!

Barbara is Mama's oldest and dearest friend...they've been buddies for 50+ years now!

Janice is a newer friend, one of Mama's exercise/walking chums. Over the past couple of years, Janice has become much more than that...she's a dear, sweet friend! She was our knot dotter...she marked the knot location for us in the center of each block.

Janice said she was allergic (yeah...right!) to needles, but she did keep some extra ones threaded for those of us who were knotting.

Sarah Jane is another friend Mama met while exercising.  She's a sweetheart too!

MAMA!!!  Put that finger down!  They were discussing thimble techniques, but really...is that my Mama?!

Mama gave each of us knotters a lesson on the proper way to make a quilt knot. Those precious hands have done a LOT of knotting and quilting over her almost-80 years!

Words cannot express how very grateful I am to these three special ladies for their faithful friendship and love for Mama!  They have helped her through the roughest time of her life, Dad's illness and death this past year.  And I know they watch out for each other, which is a great blessing to us.

Thanks for letting me share in your girlfriend-time!

Gathering together to finish a quilt...

...is not just about the knots.