MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE PAVONES

Highlights of 2016

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy new year!

I had the best of intentions for writing blogs, but alas, our busy life got in the way and I didn't make the time to write any! So, here are the Highlights of 2016. It was another busy year filled with family, friends and fun, traveling, RVing, quilting teaching, and much joy. 

We traveled throughout the year. In January our traveling included a trip to a very stormy New Jersey,  and a Caribbean cruise with friends. In July, we flew to Seattle & took a summer road trip with friends (not in the RV) thru the Olympic Peninsula; drove around the Lavender Festival in Squim; ferried to Vancouver Island; stayed in a quaint, boutique hotel close to the waterfront in historic Victoria; spent a day amongst the beautiful flowers of the Butchart Gardens; ferried to Vancouver, Canada; spent a couple days in Whistler; then continued on to the big city of Vancouver; then back to Seattle. The Pacific Northwest is so picturesque and a favorite of ours. Sept we went to Laughlin on our now “annual family vacation;” spent 4 fun-filled days on the Lake Mojave with our adult kids and 5 grandkiddos-always a great time! Oct we went to Santa Catalina Island on our friend’s sailboat. It was a wonderful, relaxing trip; had fun exploring the town of Avalon.

RVing included the month of March in Arizona for Spring Training again; in May, a weekend with family and friends in Julian; spent the 4^th of July in Oxnard with my sister and family, then onto Buellton to camp with friends; in Aug at Rincon County Park (on PCH but right on the edge of the beach; for our Annual Thanksgiving week of camping we spent it with friends and family at Del Mar RV Resort, on the Camp Pendleton Marine Base.

Nick did a lot of teaching all over So Cal for the State Fire Marshal’s Office; he worked on beautifying our yards, and helped with our master bath remodel, re-staining our vanity and tiling the floor. Karen went to the Broadway play, ‘Carole King’s Beautiful” with Nicole (a wonderful night of reminiscing back to my college days!)and went to 4 quilt retreats, making many quilts for charity.

Rounding out the year we tried to spend as much time as we could with all 5 of our grandkids (pictured above l to r: Seth-3½, Hallee-5½, Gigi-9½, Micah-6½, and Brody-6½). Every time we are with them it is always fun. They bring us much joy and happiness.

2015 OPAM (One Project A Month) PROJECT FINISHES

• In 2015 I completed 63 Projects, including 21 placemats, clothes for my grandkids, quilted table runners, quilted table toppers, knit projects and 4 original designed quilts.
• 
  
• DECEMBER
• (5) Hand knit Scarves for the grandkiddos
• (5) Hand knit wash cloths
• (14) Special Placemats
• NOVEMBER
• (3) Personalized Placemats for Grandkiddos
• OCTOBER
• (7) Personalized Placemats for Grandkiddos
• (2) Christmas Log Cabin Table Runners
• (2) Black Batik Log Cabin Table Runners
• (1) Cathedral Windows Table Topper
• (2) Summer Twister Star Table Runners
• (1) PJ flannel shorts for Seth
• SEPTEMBER
• (1) "Summer Sunset" Wallhanging, my original design
• (2) Placemats for grandkids
• (1) Blanket sleeper for great niece
• (2) PJ flannel shorts for Brody and Micah
• AUGUST
• (1) Sundress for my granddaughter, GIgi
• (1) Small quilt for a cute boy
• (1) Button down shirt for my grandson, Brody (his request!)
• (1) Sun Dress for my granddaughter, Hallee
• (2) Summer jammies for my granddaughters
• (2) Sun Dresses for my granddaughters
• Finished embroidery on "Journey of a Quilter" quilt project! (YEA!)
• JULY
• Worked on embroidery blocks for "Journey of a Quilter" quilt project
• JUNE
• (1) "Summer Radiance" for AnnaMariaHorner Mini Quilt Swap, my original design.
• (1) Padded cover for RV Magellan GPS
• MAY
• (1) "Wonky Blocks" Original Wallhanging for AlisonGlass Mini Swap on Instagram, my original design.
• APRIL
• Worked on embroidery blocks for "Journey of a Quilter" quilt project
• MARCH
• No finishes; worked on embroidery blocks
• FEBRUARY
• (1) Happy Birthday Wallhanging, my original design
• (2) Sundresses for granddaughters made with fabric from Tahiti
• JANUARY
• (1) A "Wendy" nightgown for Gigi's Play, Peter Pan

2014 OPAM (One Project A Month) PROJECT FINISHES

During 2014 I completed 34 projects, listed by months!

NOVEMBER

• (1) Christmas Crazy Eights Table Runner
• (3) Embroidered and quilted patchwork pillows
• (1) Black and White Queen Quick Trip Quilt
• OCTOBER
• (2) "Twisting Pinwheels" Table Runners for friends
• (1) "Happy Stars" Table Runner for a dear friend
• SEPTEMBER
• No finishes! Worked on applique blocks  for "Journey of a Quilter" Quilt while traveling!
• On the road exploring northern USA in our RV
• AUGUST
• No finishes! Worked on applique blocks while traveling!
• On the road exploring northern USA in our RV
• JULY
• (1) Firefighter Lap Quilt for my hubby
• (2) Matching Batik Dresses for my grgirls!
• (1) "Remembering Heroes" Charity Lap Quilt
• (4) Pillowcases for granbabies
• JUNE
• (1) Whirlwind Baby Quilt for a friend's grandson
• (1) Baby Flannel Burp Cloth
• MAY
• (2) Patriotic Lil Twister Table Runners
• (2) "Ocean Waves: A Star for All Seasons" Table Runners
• (1) "A Sunset Over the Ocean" Minkie Lap Quilt for a friend
• APRIL
• (2) Easter Dresses for my granddaughters
• (1) "Hugs for Anna" Baby Quilt
• (1) Baby Girl Blanket Sleeper
• (1) Baby Flannel Burp Cloth
• (1) "Loving Hugs" Baby Quilt
• (1) "Horses" Lap Quilt for my grandson, Brody
• (1) Messenger Bag for Coloring for my grandson, Brody
• MARCH
• RVing in AZ for Spring Training
• FEBRUARY
• (1) "Night Watch" Bear Applique Wallhanging for RV
• (1) "Lucky Penny" Tossed 9 Patch Oversized Queen Quilt for my daughter- I long arm quilted this quilt-my first long-arm quilting project!
• (1) Friendship Prayer Lap Quilt for a friend

New Year's Resolutions: to make them or not?

I started the new year out thinking about New Year's Resolutions for 2016.  

Every year I seem to always think about them, but I can't remember if I have ever actually written them down. 
That's not to say that I don't make "to-buy" or "to-do lists," 

because I make those. But actual New Year's Resolutions, nope! 

Holley Gerth describes it so well: "The new year unfolds like pages in a book yet to be written, bringing hope and endless possibilities." 

The beginning of a new year is exciting and fresh. 

It's a time to reflect and look forward to new things. 

Instead of New Year's Resolutions, I'm starting the year out with 

some great ideas and plans: finding "my one word" for the year; for trips; for writing more blog posts; for quilting projects I want to finish (that's a really long list!); and sewing projects I want to make.
I've decided my word for the year is going to be "JOY-JOYFUL!" I'm going to look for the JOY in each day and each situation.

One thing I have always wanted to do, and never have, is read
the Bible in a Year. So, along with my "to-do lists," and finding JOY is each day, 

I've committed to doing just that; I'm joining many who attend
The Fields (my daughter and SIL's church), and reading the entire Bible in 2016!

Here's to a productive and enlightened 2016!