Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Odds and Ends

Summer is in the air in our neck of the woods and I am loving it.  The heat invigorates me.  It is a wonderful feeling.

We've had a wonderful week filled with grandchildren.  They were all out last week for Easter vacation so we always enjoy some of the extra time that we get to spend with them. 

J and B spent a couple of days with us midweek and we got to explore some fun places with them.


Boys will be boys and climb anything.

A visit to the alpaca farm.


Is this cute or what?


Next stop was to the fish hatchery.


These were waiting for any escaping fish.  There was heavy fencing above the tanks to keep these fishers away.


They were hoping the lake looks like this when we go fishing this summer.

We had to stop at the rose nursery so Grandma could replace two rose bushes.


A great time to visit the rose garden!!!


Can we take one of these home????


Sunstruck was the rose of choice for me.   I love this rose and now have three of them in the rose garden.

We wondered why the citrus were covered.  They are seedless mandarins and are covered to keep the bees out.  Interesting!


We had our eldest son's children for the weekend while their parents went to Santa Barbara to celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary.  To us, it seems like it was just yesterday.



We went out to breakfast after church.


Trying to pull the palm branch down.  It's harder than it looks!!!

They all love playing with the sewing machine.  They made a fabric postcard for their folks anniversary.  The teen embroidered his initial on his socks.

As a thank you for watching the children they brought us two of these lovely creatures to enjoy.



Needless to say there was not much sewing of my own going on,  I did manage to get some binding done on two of my quilts that were returned by Mary who did an amazing job on the quilting.  If you have never seen her work you have to check out her blog.  She has several special projects going on right now that will be published sometime next year and she has shown a few sneak peeks.  As well, she is such a delightful person.

From the Thread Head Quiltalong.



This one has been claimed by a granddaughter because of the cherries.


Look at the wonderful cherry quilting that Mary did on it.
 I had lunch with a high school friend yesterday and she gave me this fabulous bag.  She made it using her own hand dyed fabrics which are to die for.  She really knows the colors that I love.  I am still trying to convince her that she needs to start a blog.

Has anyone ever had their keyboard die?  My keyboard, I must admit, needed replacing because most of the letters were no longer visible on the keys.  However.....did it need to die?  DH brought home a fancy new ergonomic looking thing that I am having the most dreadful time adjusting to.  I know that eventually I may appreciate it, but I would love to have my flat old thing back again.  Can you tell that I am not big on change?

Lastly, Linda passed this traveling book onto me and I would love to pass it on to someone else to enjoy.  If you would like to read it, please let me know and I will mail it off to someone.   I will select a name next Tuesday - May 10th.


29 comments:

  1. Your grandchildren are so cute, or I should say handsome, as they are growing so big! Looks like they enjoyed their visit with you and I'm sure you did also.

    Your quilt is lovely!

    I have read "Aloha Quilts" and it is wonderful.

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  2. You look like you and the boys had a great time together. Your quilts look great! We're still waiting for things to dry out here so we can start farming.

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  3. Oh what sweet photos! I love seeing the grandchildren and you must have had such a wonderful time. I'd love to take mine to a fish hatchery whey they are a little older.

    What a gorgeous quilt!!I would SOoo like to make one of those some day. Ah..I see retirement on the horizon and it looks so lovely!

    But I'll cry when my babies are all gone I know. :o)

    Great post! I really enjoyed all of the photos.

    xo
    Donna

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  4. You are so blessed with so many grandchildren! I can just see the love in your photos!! Someday....someday....I say...I will have one perhaps two! Hee

    Glad you found time to bind those beauties!!

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  5. What a busy time you've had with the grandies, quilts and reading books. Lucky you!

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  6. Great pictures of your Grands & the roses!! Wow lucky you!!

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  7. Love the photos of the grands and the quilts and that rose is BEAUTIFUL. Someday I'm going to have Mary quilt something of mine!! I've read that book and it's a good one.

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  8. What kind of crab was it? And I love the fishery!! It would be fun for the kids to go wading among all those fishies.

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  9. Family time and roses, what better way to spend it. The gorgeous quilt! Love the scrappy looks - Hugs Nat

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  10. I always enjoy the outing with your grandchilren. Beautiful roses.
    So nice to see the young ones sewing.
    Enjoy your book.

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  11. yes, my keyboard is almost dead. it's not wireless. i've had it forever, maybe 5 years. and i type daily 8 hours each day on it for my work (i work from home).
    love all your pics~your grandchildren are adorable.

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  12. Looks like you and the grandchildren had a great time! That baby alpaca was so cute! And those roses! Beautiful!

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  13. You've had a wonderful week with the kiddoes - and you've taken them to wonderful places!

    The quilts are fabulous - the quilting is amazing!

    I had the ergonomic keyboard at the university and loved it because of my hand issues. I don't have one now. I had a co-worker who said it felt like typing on the top of someone's head. It takes adjustment, for sure.

    I loved Aloha Quilt - and can't wait till her next one comes out. There has been another one since - The Union Quilters.

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  14. handsome kiddos you have there!!! Looks like everyone was having a great time!!!

    Love your quilts! They are true masterpieces!!

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  15. I enjoyed seeing the pics of your grandchildren. it is wonderful that they love to sew. I haven't read Aloha Quilt yet, but I love Jennifer's books. That's why I made the SBS quilt.Your quilt is just stunning!
    Micki

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  16. Your grands are so cute and it must be fun having that many.
    I have my keyboard go down and my new one has the letters coming off already!! Maybe I type to much.
    Your quilt is beautiful as is the roses.
    Thanks for sharing your family.
    Hugs

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  17. Looks like it was a fun week! I LOVE the quilts. Good job!

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  18. Looks like everyone was having so much fun! What great memories you are making for those cute little grandchildren! Your quilt is beautiful!!!

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  19. Great photos as always!!
    Great giveaway, thanks for the chance.♥

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  20. Oh, what wonderful fun those grandchildren had!
    And the rose you chose! Oh my, I love that color. Glad your weather is wonderful now. Ours is much better than last week (tornado).
    Thanks for all the good words, prayers and wishes!

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  21. What fun outings you planned for your grandchildren.

    The quilt is gorgeous - and the quilting is over the top.

    Happy Mother's Day to you.

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  22. What fun you have had with your grandchildren lately :-) your quilt is lovely! The book swap is a wonderful idea. I have that book on my nook but haven't read it yet. Maybe I'll start tomorrow!

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  23. Lovely outing and pretty rose that you chose, I love Just Joey, has a wonderful fragrance. Your quilts are just too gorgeous and the quilting is amazing on both. That crab is huge!;)

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  24. Looks like the grand kids had a great time with you! 8-)

    Your quilts look absolutely wonderful!! Love them! Nice job! 8-)

    Hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day!

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  25. What lovely pictures!! And the quilt made me gasp--beautiful! Hugs, Kerrie

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  26. Nice visit and what fun you must have had with the grands. Mine have not visited since September so a bit emotional to read.

    Keyboards!!! My new one is a nightmare. every sentence has mistakes as my nails catch and the feel is so different.

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  27. I would love to read that book. i have several of hers and really enjoy them. and the quilts and kiddos are beautiful.

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  28. Aren't little boys delightful. I remember when my boys were little. Your quilts are lovely!

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  29. Okay, I just love the quilt with the cherries on it. What is the name of that pattern?

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