Last Chance Fun Before School

It is now an official tradition.....the DGDs get to go on a mini-vacation with Nahn Nahn and PopPop the week before school starts.  Anything we do twice in our family becomes tradition and this was our second before school starts trip.  This time we included two overnights.

The trip began with a day at our house with crafts, snacks, and a movie before bedtime.  I finally got everyone to watch Pete's Dragon, which was one of Stephen and Jon's all time favorites (by my recollection).  The girls enjoyed it and weren't even aware of how dated the animation techniques were from 1979.  Jim and I enjoyed the songs.  Remember "Candle on the Water" sung by Helen Reddy? 

The next day we were off to Santa Cruz and the Boardwalk.  We were a little slow getting going but it turned out to be a good thing because the Boardwalk attractions didn't open until 1:00 p.m.  We had time for lunch and then it was off to the rides. 

This train ride had a little bit of Disney influence but not quite as polished.  The girls loved it.

Look!  It's Pete's Dragon!

Makayla's all-time favorite ride.  She rode it 8 times.

What's not to be happy about?  We just finished ice cream cones.

PopPop got talked into riding in the front of this one so Makayla wouldn't get so wet. (Her idea.)

The DGDs made a friend along the way and shared a ride together.

Miniature Golf for the first time.  They LOVED it.

Heading back to the car via the Sky Ride.  A perfect day. 

 Our hotel was a very nice Fairfield Inn in Capitoal just down the road from Santa Cruz.  Along the way, we discovered a great Pizza restaurant for dinner.  The hotel included breakfast the next morning and the girls loved having all the great choices.  Then we were off to Felton to ride the Roaring Camp Steam Railroad. 

Embarking on more family fun.

Sunlight through the redwoods......stunning!

The Little Engine That Could......

Never saw a log I couldn't climb.

Happiness on a sunny day.

Returning back to the station.

It was a great mini-vacation!

I'm Thinking......

..........of doing this with my flying geese.  I just love that this entire quilt top is made with scraps.  I love looking at the little squares and remembering what I used  the fabric for.  I think this is another quilt that I won't want to give away. 

And while I'm in a sewing mood, I finished the last three of the mug rugs for friends.  I've made 15 of them.  I actually have another 5 partially together.  Who knows when I'll get around to finishing them. 

Flying and a Finish

I've been scrapping around with some flying geese lately.  I love the fast flying geese method.  I could get seriously into making lots of flying geese. You can make a lot of geese in no time at all. 

The plan is to use these in a border around a scrappy four-patch.  I'm not quite sure if I'm going to do all flying geese or just a partial of flying geese on each side.  These are decisions to still be determined. 

Basically I'm just having fun and working on this project as I feel like it.  I seem to start everything as a community quilt and then I want to keep it.  Like this quilt below: 

The colors of this were totally out of my box but now that it is finished, I'm kind of liking it.  So do I keep it (to probably give away as a gift eventually) or do I give it to community quilts as it was originally intended.  TBA.

Stars For Friends

What a project this turned out to be.  I begin with the simple idea of making mug rugs for a group of friends.  It seemed that a Friendship Star block was the one to use.  But I forgot I was making a mug rug which would finish at about 7" X 11".  That meant the block was going to be small with lots of small parts. I began. 

Lots and lots of half-square triangles.  Thank goodness for Thangles. 

I had a great goal of making the 20 Friendship Star blocks while at my guild quilt retreat in June.  That did not happen.  Fortunately, I didn't allow myself to put things away.  Instead, I kept the project out and worked on it little by little. 

before borders

after borders

They weren't mug rugs yet.  They need an additional section and some trim and binding. 

chain sewing helped keep me going

Ahhhhh.........a mug rug

And to add the final touch of friendliness, I pinned on a tag, and added a tea bag and biscotti.  I hope everyone will like them. 

12 mug rugs ready to hand out.  Another 8 await finishing.

My friend Sue makes the best orange chocolate chip biscotti

It was a pretty big project.  I think I've made whole quilts in less time.  This just had a lot of detail work like sewing down binding.  Thankfully, the summer Olympics were on so I could get in lots of hand-sewing. 

And I leave you with this.......

Friends leave footprints in your heart forever. 

Gratitude

It is so easy to not take time to be grateful for all the blessings bestowed upon us with each and every moment of the day.  It is so enriching to the soul to pause a moment and give thanks. Thanks for the beauty that surrounds us.  Thanks for the opportunities that come our way.  Thanks to God, our creator who loves us.  In a moment of thankfulness, I went for a bike ride on a beautiful day here in Alameda.  This is only a bit of what I paused to see and capture on my camera. 

First - way over there across the water on the left is where I live.  This is not where I was bike riding.  This is a view from Crown Beach looking over to Harbor Bay Isle where I live.

This is the lagoon that weaves in and out of the homes in Harbor Bay Isle.  I was on the bike path riding along and enjoying the views.

Ducks and geese love hanging out in the lagoons of Harbor Bay Isle.

Gathering together for a little afternoon swim. 

Life is good today in Alameda, California.

Friendship In Blocks

I'm currently working on friendship blocks that will be made into gifts for some friends.  I may think twice before I decide to make 1 1/2" half square triangles again.  Even using Thangles, it was tedious. 

Lots of stitch, cut, press procedures

Then there is the putting together of 9 small blocks to make 1 

Quite cute when done

A blue border makes a nice addition

There is still more to go.  These will eventually become mug rugs.  I'm hoping to make 20 of them.  It's a bit more of a task than I thought it would be.  At least I've started early since I won't be giving them out until August.

Independence Day In A Small Town

One of the great things about small town living is the hometown parade on the Fourth of July.  Alameda claims to have the second largest parade in America on the Fourth.  It's always quirky and fun.  Basically anyone who can get a group together can pretty much enter the parade. And there is also the high school bands, the military groups, the scouts, etc.  We stake out our place early and bring our chairs along with snacks.  The darling grand-daughters always get a Popsicle at the end.  A great time was had by all. 

 Hooray for the Red, White and Blue

 Proud to be an American. (and I am proud to be his mom)

                                                  

76 Trombones led the big parade......well not quite 76

Larda, a student from Spain, who is staying with Jon and Lissa's family for a month.  Cool glasses girls!

 Seven years old going on teenage. 

Oh My!  Did that horse just...?

 Sharing a Popsicle between sisters.

I told you.  Anyone with a group can enter the parade.  They were towing a boat.