Girls Weekend !

The women of Lake Almanor camping group (most of us: Robin, Sue, Lynn, me, our daughters and grandbabies, Kelly, Pat, Debbie and more) gathered in Orange, CA., for a weekend of friendship and gab and to attend the baby shower for Andrew Michael Churney, due in Sept. Friday night we drove to Pete and Robin Merandi's home in Upland for a delicious BBQ. Saturday afternoon was the baby shower and baby Andrew was showered well!! The rest of the weekend we spent mostly at the home of Christy and Stephen, proud parents-to-be.

L to R: Christy and baby, Emily and Isabelle, Kristina and Sarah, Nicole and Gigi

Kristina and Sarah (17 months) flew in from San Jose. Sue, Lynn, Emily and Isabelle (1 year) flew in from Sacramento (there's something about baby showers and flying south from Sacramento airport that just doesn't mix--always takes many hours more than the hour flight time, with delay after delay!!).

Always a great time when we all get together and reminisce of fun times at Lake Almanor.

Picture from the weekend can be seen on my flickr page:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/72308330@N00/sets/72157621896881387/

WISPs* to Complete in August

I always think I can accomplish more than time allows! When deciding on the projects I would like to finish, I usually find a project or two that I want to start as well. So in an effort to finish a few WISPs * I started to reorganize my collection of fabrics, aka "stash" I keep in the closet of my sewing room. After an hour, I did get it a bit more organized than before, but didn't find the one project I was looking for (it must still be in the special place I put it, but that place has continued to slip my mind). So I will look again another day when I get the bug to do more organization and I don't feel like sewing (ha! I always feel like sewing!), so another day when I decide to organize rather than sew (which will take some coaxing!).

By the end of August, here are the projects I plan to finish for"One Project a Month Challenge" (OPAM) and the"Charming Girls' Quilt Club" (CGQC) :

1st - I just started a Christmas lap quilt using the pattern "Nine Patch Party" from Eleanor Burns' book, Still Stripping After 25 Years. I need to finish this quilt as soon as possible since I am making it as a store sample (I work at Eleanor Burns' Quilt in a Day store). After it is on display for a few months the quilt becomes mine to keep!2nd - my All American Star Tablerunner--the stars are paper pieced, which made for perfect points--it just needs some finishing quilting and a label-very doable!3rd - another Quick Trip lap quilt made from Robin Pandolph's line of fabrics in soft reds and greens (started two summers ago!).4th - if I still have time I'd also like to finish my Tossed Nine Patch lap quilt made from Mary Englebreit fabrics. It will match the theme of my sewing room, which is decorated with Mary Englebreit fabrics, a few accessories and prints. This one just needs to be pinned, quilted and bound!Well, maybe I am being a bit ambitious! If I do happen to run out of time, I'll add this one to my September projects to finish.

* If you don't remember what a WISP is = works in slow progress!!

Summer's in Full Swing: July 2009

July has come and gone, but not without a lot of happenings, for sure!

The biggest event in July was another family wedding--a Pavone this time!
Our niece, Amalia, daughter of Veneta and Tom (Nick's oldest brother) got married on July 10th. She married her sweetheart, Rick, on a very hot and humid day in Pensacola, Florida, where Rick is currently training to be an aircraft mechanic.

The happy couple, Mr and Mrs Zaragoza
just after the wedding!

I flew to Pensacola, with Amalia's other aunt, Laurel, and her Parents. We met Rick's mom, Ana, there, too. The women all helped the bride get ready, making sure she had "Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed and Something Blue!" The bride wore an adorable white cotton dress with embroidered black flowers and matching white and black accented heels and carried a beautiful bouquet of Red roses and White daisies, while the groom wore his uniform (made of wool--he, definitely, suffered from the heat more than the rest of us!!!--but it was truly worth it!). Below, Proud mom and dad stand with the newly married couple!Tom, Amalia, Rick and Veneta

Me, Amalia, Rick and Laurel

The ceremony was performed by a court clerk outside the courthouse in downtown Pensacola, under two large, very old oak trees. It was short and sweet and full of love! We were all so glad to be a part of Amalia and Rick's special day and share in the joy! It was a short weekend and very hot and humid, but that didn't stop us from having a fabulous time!!

To view all the pictures from Amalia and Rick's wedding, go to my flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/72308330@N00/sets/72157621789849697/

We camped for the 4th of July Weekend with the Eccles Family in Julian at KQ Ranch where we both have memberships, so we camp for "free!" It was our first trip in our motorhome since Nick had his rotator cuff surgery almost two months ago! It was a hot and breezy weekend. No fireworks but fun just the same. The small town of Julian has an annual old fashioned 4th of July Parade which didn't disappoint. We relaxed, took walks around the campground, and enjoyed the weekend in the mountains not far from home.

The weekend of July 23rd- 26th we took the whole family for a small vacation to Laughlin, Nevada. We headed to Lake Mojave for 3 days, where it was cooler next to the water than back in town.

L to r: Alex Angelina, Papa(Nick) Gigi, Nicole and David

Cooling off at the lake-only place to be was in the water!

The temperatures ranged from 98-111 degrees, at least not as hot as the week before when the temperatures got up to 120+ degrees for 4 days in a row!!
Gigi loved the boat--took naps in it, didn't mind wearing her life vest, and drove the boat with Papa. Above, she has one hand on the throttle and one hand steering, just like Papa!! It was really fun having the whole family together!

To view our July 2009 pictures go to my flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/72308330@N00/sets/72157621790243229/