aka Catherine or Maggie and Sport’s Mom or Tom’s Wife
Who is Cathy? That’s a good question. I’m the youngest of five, all girls. I lost my mom when I was a freshman in high school. When I was a senior, my dad had a massive stroke. He was never well enough to come home. He past away 20 years later. I don’t tell you this for sympathy. But it makes me, well Me.
I love to laugh and tend to be very sarcastic. You just can’t take things too seriously all the time. If you ever have a question about what tone of voice I’m using, assume it’s with a laugh, giggle or smile.
I love to quilt, sew, hike, and snowmobile. Not necessarily in that order, but those are things I love to do.
Family
I met my husband when I was 19. He was 28. He wasn’t sure about dating a teenager but I solved that by turning 20, 3 months later <grin>. We have been married over 20 years. I joke, if I went to his senior prom with him, I would have been 9. My husband is the one who got me into snowmobiling. I hope we get a lot more snow than we did last year. Can’t wait to ride my sled!
Dogs
I never had a pet growing up. The way I love dogs, you would never guess. I was devastated when we lost our first dog Sandie. She was my love. I now have Maggie and Sport. Maggie, I got from a local breeder. Sport, I got as a rescue 2 years later. They are different as two dogs can be. I love taking them on hikes. To see the joy in their faces and tails, just puts a smile on my face. I believe they dream about hiking when they sleep.
Quilting
I started quilting in the 90’s. My husband and I had a small engine repair business. My wardrobe consisted of jeans and a t-shirt. I didn’t really want to make clothes that would get grimy. But I missed sewing. I got into quilting when I saw a friend showing off some of her work. It got me back behind my sewing machine. Which I love!
When we closed the shop in ‘06, I purchase my long arm. I have been quilting for customers ever since. It took me about 6 months to get to really know that machine. But I’m glad I purchased it. I enjoy the whole process of quilting. From choosing fabrics, to cutting, to piecing and quilting.
Hiking
2006 is also when I met one of my best friends and hiking teacher, Carol. We started out hiking the local rail trail and shorter, easier hikes. We now hike at least once a week, averaging 10 miles a week. We are very close to finishing the 4000 footers in NH. I was trying to get Maggie and Sport to all of them, but the longer hikes are just a bit much for them. Maggie is 12 and Sport is 10.
I’m still amazed that I can hike these mountains. When we first started out, a 2 mile walk on the local rail trail was tough. Now I’m hiking 7+ miles with 1500 to 3000 feet of altitude gain. Even as I write this, I still can’t believe it. But I have pictures to prove it.
I have been wanting to participate in a daily blog challenge for a while. I’m going to try to do them all. I may miss a day or two, but that will be because I’m up on a mountain. I wrote this earlier in the week. Today, I will be climbing Mt. Monroe. Tomorrow, I’ll be on Mt. Washington, the highest mountain in the northeast!
Have you climbed any mountains lately? Literally or figuratively?
C
Yes I have – my mountain was breast cancer, which put me through the wringer and squashed me out the other side. But treatment is over now, and things are slowly returning to normal.
We don’t climb mountains like you do, but have hiked the Milford Track here in New Zealand many years ago. A four day trip, it’s billed as the “Greatest Walk in the World” Check it out on Google and see what I mean.
Glad to hear your on the other side of you treatment. Cancer is a mountain I hope I never have to climb.
Milford Track looks beautiful. You are lucky to have such beauty close by.