Missing U

My "u" has decided to play it's own game here.  Perhaps it is marching to its own beat, but it will not appear in my typing unless I stop and specifically push it down....hard!  Do you have any idea how often you type a "u"?????   I think it is time for a new laptop, but we all know what that means.  It's hours of transferring things to a new computer.  UGH!!!

Onto more pleasant subjects....

The first row of my Temperature quilt is now finished and the second row is well on it's way to completion.  As you can see, it has been an exceptionally warm January for us.  It is hard to imagine so many of the 80* color range in January.

My design floor has become a bit more challenging with a puppy following me everywhere.

We had our annual family snow trip last weekend.  We enjoyed two beautiful snows while we were there, but it was COLD this year.  I never tire of the view.  I know our snowmen leave a bit to be desired, but they were fun to make and the little ones had fun with them.

With so many people there, we eat in shifts.  I had to chuckle at the "first shift" photo.  Cucumbers on the eyes????

I always love seeing fancy towel folding when I am a guest.  I should do this at home for my guests.

One final picture from the snow.  The ice crystals on the windshield were so pretty.  I apologize to all of you who live in the cold part of the country for my excitement over visiting it.  I know it has been a really cold winter for many of you.

It sounds like a very boring time around here, but I have been busy with some blog hop sewing, assisting a kindergarten class with quilt blocks and helping a granddaughter make a school mythology costume.  Perhaps I will have more to show next time.

Let It Snow

I know that the last thing that a lot of you want to see is snow – or pictures of snow.  We, on the other hand, had the delightful experience of snow for our annual “snow” trip.  When we arrived it was summer like weather with temps near 70*.  The only snow to be seen was on the mountain top.



The day afterwards it started to snow.   It snowed and snowed and snowed.  We all loved watching the flakes falling throughout the evening and then all the next day.  In total we got about 12” of fresh snow and it changed our scenery to a winter wonderland.





Digging out to leave was a different story and driving was a bit challenging.

 


It was a great time for making family memories.

Indoor time for Guesstures!

Their last snow trip as they will be away at colleges next year.

Have you signed up for the Spring Meet and Greet Stitchers?  If you do any sort of handwork – cross stitch, applique, etc. you need to sign up for the fun.  I just signed up and am looking forward to seeing all of the beautiful work that is going to be shown. 

Orange Peel

My mom had surgery a few weeks ago so I have had some added time for a little hand stitching.  I contemplated doing some Grandmother Flower Garden flowers, but decided instead on some Orange Peel blocks.  I enjoyed working on the ones in my Trifle Dish quilt.  There is a fun QAL going on through the summer for the Orange Peel blocks.  This is what I have so far.



We managed to slip away for a few days for our annual family fishing trip.  I was not great with picture taking this time, but here are a few shots of the kids and grandchildren with whom we made memories. 

Son #1 and family.

Son #2 and family.

Son #4 and family.

Daughter and family.

These pictures were taken the night before we left and son #3 and his family had to leave early to get home in time for a summer camp date and a horse show on Sunday. 

There is nothing quite as relaxing as having a pole in the water, waiting for a nibble and enjoying a view like this. It recharges the body batteries!

Snow and More Snow





We've been away again enjoying our family with our annual trip to the snow.  I am sure that snow is probably the last thing many of you would want to hear about right now, but we always enjoy the trip.  I guess one can do that if you do not have to live in it.  There was a lot of snow this year which made for some excellent sledding for the children.  Of course they got a really big storm up there on Tuesday.  One of these years we may get snowed in up there.

 

 





I can never get enough of this view.

 

The adults had a little island to sit on while watching all of the children sledding.

WHAT is it????  First feel of snow.

Loving the ride.



Two man downhill.

 

The old folks.

#1 son and wife

#2 son and wife

#3 son and wife

Daughter and family

 

#4 son's wife had to miss the trip as she was down with a head cold so he would not pose for a picture by himself.  ;-(

 

Wednesday's Words and Pictures

Gosh...it's been two weeks since I last blogged so there is lots to share.  There has not been a lot of sewing as we have been away for a bit.

We had a delightful trip to Florida.  This is a time when I normally meet up with a fellow friend and blogger, Midlife Mom, but it was not to be this year.  Her father had fallen off of a ladder and was in the hospital so she was staying with her mom and getting things sorted out.  I am glad to report that he is doing much better and is now home in Maine with Louise.  I did miss our chats and will have to make up for them up next year!!!!

We were staying near Key Largo and this year we made the drive down to Key West.  It was a fun and interesting drive.  I always love the colors that you see in that area.  I am sure that we would be fined by our HOA if we were to paint our home one of the luscious colors that can be seen.   They have such a tropical feel to them.

Of course I love seeing the flowers - especially the orchids that are planted on the palm trees.  I would love to be able to do something like that here, but I would worry about a freeze.

Can you imagine doing a topiary like this on your house?  The entire house was done like this and this is only a small section of it, but I found the rats very interesting.

During our stay we enjoyed a fun concert with KC and the Sun*shine Boys.

We returned home for two days - long enough to unpack, do laundry, shop and repack for our annual trip to the Sierras with the children and grandchildren.  The snow pack was nothing to write home about, but we did find some good areas for sledding and, of course, the skiing areas were open for those who ski.  We all had a fabulous time - snow or not.




The techy group.




Birthday boy.





Dinner in shifts!!!




Sun rising on the mountains.



While we were away several wonderful packages arrived in my mailbox.  Some wonderful Valentine fabrics arrived from Annie.  Aren't these fun fabrics?  I think I see a valentine quilt coming.

From Pat a package came with a glue stick and another pretty piece of fabric.  I will use the glue stick for the paper piecing that I do.  I tend to go through it quickly so I am excited about trying this new brand.  Thanks Pat.

I joined up for the Year of Mug Rugs and the February mug rug arrived while we were away.  Jeanne also included some fun charm squares in the package.  I have enjoyed using my seasonal mug rug!

Also from Jeanne, I received fabrics that I won from the Blog Hop.  Aren't the colors pretty?  They remind me of the Florida Key colors!!!

As I said, there has not been a lot of sewing going on as we were away.  I did manage to finish up my heart quilt for the auction next week.

As well, I made the doll school uniform that I make each year for the grandchildren's school auction which is in a couple of weeks.  It feels good to have those both finished.

It's a rainy day here so I am heading in to my sewing room for some fun.

Added later.......

Is this new word verification driving everyone else as crazy as it is me????  I simply cannot read some of those words.  I notice that I am leaving fewer comments due to it so thought I would add a hint as to how to get rid of it on your blogs. 
to turn word verification off:


Go to dashboard, then  settings, then comments, scroll down this page until you find word verification- fill in the NO bubble. Click "save settings" at the bottom of the page.