A Quilter and The Chief

Anniversary Trip

2012-02-02T07:46:00.000-08:00

Cancun, Mexico

For the past 6 years, we have taken a trip with our Cruising/Camping Buddies (Nances, Lauries, and Merandis--last 2 years) to celebrate our anniversaries. We've been going on cruises, but this year we decided to go to an All-Inclusive Resort.

Our friends, Lynn and Rick Nance own an N-hance Wood Renewal business. Each year they go to their company's convention, and this year it was in Cancun. So the rest of us decided we'd tag along and make a great vacation out of it together!! We stayed at the Gran Melia Resort-Cancun a beautiful resort located on the Caribbean Sea.

We had such a great time just relaxing by the poolside, under palappas, sipping all the margaritas, Miami Vices, and beer we wanted! Reading and dozing were the activities of the day, for most of the week! The weather was perfect, in the mid-70's-80's, with balmy breezes, light clouds floating above, and some humidity (just enough for my curly hair and skin to love it!!)

We also took walks on the white, sandy beach, and the Caribbean was warmer than the pool water! One day while Nick, Rick and Bill went fly fishing, the girls

(Sue, Karen, Robin and Lynn)

took a tour to the Tulum Ancient Mayan Ruins, a very beautiful place.

The best part of the vacation was spending time with great friends once again!

You can enjoy the pictures from our great trip here.

December 2011

2012-01-04T11:09:00.000-08:00

Christmas Celebrations with the Pavones

We went to the Kids' Christmas Party at the fire department, mid-December, and the kids had a blast! The fireplace was decorated with fire boots for Santa and his elf's arrival, down the fire pole; the movie Polar Express was playing; children ran around laughing; there was pizza, vegies and cookies for the large crowd of over one hundred!

Our little he boys enjoyed sitting in the fire engine, and playing with their new wooden trains, and Hallee seemed to enjoy her first time sitting on Santa's lap! The boys, on the other hand, both screamed when their dads got them within close proximity of Santa and his elf! Even Gigi was more reluctant this year.

Christmas Eve.... we enjoyed a delicious Chicken Piccata dinner prepared by Nicole, accompanied by the wonderful sounds of the holiday season

from our newly set up (by Nicole) Pandora station on our TV.

After dinner.....

David and Nick assembled a few items. Top left, David assembling Brody's new train table; top right, David and Nick assembling Micah's tricycle.

Bottom left, all the family stockings were filled to their tops, and overflowing, each one having a "traditional orange" in the bottom. Bottom right, Our beautiful Christmas Tree!

Once the little ones were tucked away in their beds and fast asleep, we watched Chevy Chase in Christmas Vacation, one of our traditions!!

While we waited for Alex and family to arrive from Costa Mesa, we called Great-grandma (my mom) and sang her Happy 84th Birthday as Christmas is her birthday, too.

Christmas morning was filled with joy, laughter, wonder and amazement in the eyes of children, mixed with a bit of chaos and more sounds of Christmas!

Top left, Nicole with Hallee and Gigi; top right, Hallee on her new quilt beautifully paper pieced by Granny. Bottom left, Micah on his new tricycle and Brody on his scooter; bottom right, Alex with the boys, Micah and Brody.

And, Gigi riding on her new Razor Scooter, boy could she go fast down the slight hill of our driveway!!

At the request of our son, Alex, we "dressed-up" for Christmas dinner,

and we all looked fabulous, of course!

Getting all the kids to look at the camera at the same moment isn't always the easiest!

Top left, Alex, Angelina and Micah; top right, Karen (yaya) holding Hallee, Gigi, Brody and Micah in the middle, and Nick (papa)! Bottom left, David Brody Nicole Hallee and Gigi in front; Jeri (granny) and Dan (granpa)Bennett

A very Merry Christmas was had by all!!

More pictures on my flickr page.

Christmas Stockings and more!

2011-12-12T08:00:00.000-08:00

The first year we were married I made my hubby and I stockings from Vogue Pattern 1312, which is no longer in print. I embroidered our names on the stockings' cuffs, from the iron-on letters which came in the pattern. At the time I didn't consider that these stockings are extra large and would need to be filled with lots of goodies. We still fill each other's stocking every Christmas, and sometimes those stocking stuffers have been quite interesting, including, socks, toothpaste, candy, cd's, dvd's, shaving cream, or you name it!!

When our kids were born my mom made stockings for them, but we decided to make them smaller than the original pattern size with embellishments of applique, lace and ricrac, and of course, their names embroidered on the cuffs! Fast forward 25 years, the tradition continues: I made stockings for our Nicole and David, to hang at their home.

A few years later, I made a stocking for our daughter-in-law, Angelina. Amazingly, the letter iron-ons still imprint more than 30 years later! Our kids' original stockings and their spouses' stockings hang along with ours from our mantel.

In 2010 I then made a set of stockings for Alex, Angelina, and my grandson, Micah.

I varied the pattern by making their family stockings out of red minkee and flannel.

Back in 2007, I made a stocking for our first granddaughter, Gigi, with an appliques angel, similar to the one her mom's grandma made for her. Last year, I also made a stocking for my grandson, Brody, embellished with baseball bats and a ball!

This year I made a stocking for our newest granddaughter, Hallee. The Bennett family's stockings are all made from Christmas Batiks!

The tissue pattern pieces are well worth and getting thin, and a few of the letters don't imprint as dark as they used to, but that hasn't stopped me from using it over and over. It's a shame this pattern isn't available anymore because it has so many cute Christmas projects I have made through the years (pictured above): ornaments, wreaths, our Advent Calendar and I still decorate with these projects every year.

Glory to God

2011-12-11T09:07:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas Letter

2011 was a busy first year of retirement for Nick! He doesn’t know how he ever found time to work he is so busy everyday! We’ve done quite a bit of traveling, too. So much, that my job at the quilt shop was getting in the way of more travel, so I “retired” in May.

We went on two cruises: in January, we cruised the Panama Canal (which was a spectacular sight to see), and spent a few days in Florida, driving down to the Keys with friends; and in September, we took a New England/Canada cruise with friends, my sister and my mom, after which we took a train from Newark, NJ, to spend a couple of days in Philly. In March, we visited many American Historic sites in Washington DC and spent time in Virginia with friends. We have discovered we really like the East, seeing all the history that is there, and we hope to go back in the near future.

We hit Spring Training again with Nicole, David and family as well as David’s parents, staying at a really nice Resort in Surprise, Arizona. Alex also joined us for a couple of days, which was nice. In April, we met our friends, the Nances, for an Abalone Dive Trip in Fort Bragg, CA. In October, we headed north again to spend a few days with our friends (the Nances) in Redding, then continued north to Bend, Oregon, for a week. What a gorgeous area! We saw the vivid fall colors we had missed in New England, having been there too early in the fall! On our return trip home, we stopped in Yreka to spend a wonderful evening with Nick’s sister, Sibbie and her family.

We rounded out the year with a couple of weekends RVing at Newport Dunes, a couple of RV trips to Flying Flags RV Resort in Buellton for Quilt Retreats for me, and, of course, our annual beach camping trip for Thanksgiving week at San Elijo St Beach, Cardiff; it poured rain the first night, and then we had a beautiful week with family and friends.

While we love RVing, traveling and cruising, the highlight of the year was the birth of our youngest granddaughter, Hallee Hope Bennett, born on June 7 !!!

It’s hard to believe she is already 6 months old. Needless to say, Nicole and David’s house is never silent with Gigi, 4.5 yrs, Brody, 20 months, and now little Hallee, and often things are a bit chaotic!

Alex and Angelina are constantly running after Micah, 19 months. Micah didn’t just start walking one day, he ran, and he hasn’t stopped. We love seeing all the kids together as they interact more and more.

Our lives are rich with the love of family and friends. We’ve learned we can’t take life for granted and we are so thankful. We are blessed to have 4 adorable grandchildren to hug and squeeze and spoil with love. We enjoy every minute we are with them, even though we are sometimes exhausted after spending hours with them. The best sound in the world is when one of them yells, “Yaya!” or “Papa!” as they enter the house or RV; it

warms our hearts every single time!

May your holidays be filled with special memories as we celebrate

the true reason for this day, the birth of Christ.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas

and a Happy New Year!

With love,

Karen and Nick

On Being Thankful !

2011-11-24T08:00:00.000-08:00

I want to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving, so I thought I'd share my whimsical,wall hanging for Thanksgiving.

On a more serious note, as I reflect on Thanksgivings past, I am reminded of all the good times we have had as a family and our life long tradition of "camping" for the holiday. Family and friends join us in this tradition. We used to camp from Wednesday afternoon until Sunday morning. But over the years we have added a day or two to the time we spend camping, at the beach (South Carlsbad State Beach or San Elijo State Beach, with a couple of years spent at the San Mateo Campground in San Clemente, part of the San Onofre State Beach). The last few years we have camped for the entire week of Thanksgiving, rain or shine! I say "rain or shine" because we've had a few years with downpours of rain, but it never dampened our holiday spirit.

This is a time to be thankful, and I have much to be thankful for: my health, my family, my grandchildren, my life, my God. I was inspired by a "pin" on Pinterest, which linked me with the blog, simplyvintagegirl, so I made my own Thankful Tree.

With a grateful heart and joyous praise I give thanks to God who blesses us all!

Spontaneous Family Fun Day

2011-11-23T10:55:00.000-08:00

On the spur of the moment, Nick and I went with Nicole, Gigi, Brody and Hallee to WAP, one day, the San Diego Wild Animal Park, now known as the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. We still refer to it as the Wild Animal Park, some things are hard to change!

It was a beautiful 70 degree day with a light breeze blowing. As we walked all around the park, we saw the elephants, tigers, lions, gorillas, including the newest baby gorilla, named Monroe, who is almost the same age as Hallee, born a couple of weeks after her in June.We also saw so many beautiful flowers all around the park.

While walking through the Lion area the funniest thing happened. The lions were lazing around in the sun, when one of the lions sneezed. We were standing on a bridge area behind a fence. Brody was standing next to papa, and jumped behind papa at the sudden sound of the lion's sneeze! He was quite startled. He also didn't like the sounds coming from the "jungle cars" in the kids play area.

Hallee slept through much of the day, while Gigi ran and skipped her way around the park. Brody rode in the stroller half the time, and the other half he tried to keep up with Gigi, which wasn't an easy thing for him, since he's still a bit unsteady on his feet, especially when he tries running.

We ate lunch at the park and enjoyed a waffle ice cream cone. After our "snack" we stopped by the meer cats exhibit so see them all "sunning" themselves. And, a visit to the WAP wouldn't be complete without a ride on the carousel! Gigi and mommy rode on animals, and it wasn't easy to capture them while they rode round and round!
Brody didn't want to ride on an animal so he opted for a seat with papa.

Days like this one make extra special memories because we see things through the eyes of our grandbabies!

More pictures.

Our Trip to Oregon

2011-11-16T19:12:00.000-08:00

Fall Colors!

We took an RV trip up to Bend, Oregon, a couple of weeks ago and thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the "fall colors," we had been too early for when we were in New England in Sept.

We visited our friends, the Nances, in Redding, CA, for a few days on our way to Bend and on our way back. One night our friends the Lauries came over from Paradise,
for a birthday dinner in honor of Sue. [Nick, Karen, Rick, Lynn, Sue & Bill]

It was great seeing them and spending some long overdue time with good friends!

The weather was clear, sunny and warm while we were in northern California. Nick and Rick went fly fishing and bear hunting, while Lynn and I had our own "quilt retreat" and sewed for a couple of fun days.We were able to complete the first three blocks in the "America the Beautiful" BOM (2011 block of the month from McCalls' Quilting magazine) we are making together.

Once we arrived in Bend, however, we were surprised to discover how cold it was. Nick had to immediately change from his shorts to jeans! The air was very crisp and the sky was a gorgeous blue, which should have been our first clue of the weather to come. The first day it was 38 degrees when we got there in the early afternoon. That night the temp got to a high of 15 degrees. The next day it got into the low 40's and that night it only dropped to 20 degrees.

We stayed at a fantastic RV Resort, Crown Villa , right near the beginning of town. The sites are all 72' long, made with pavers. Each site has a storage cabinet you can use at the back of the site and the sites are extra wide, maybe 45' wide with lots of grass.

We drove around the town of Bend, a very, quaint town. The vibrant, rich yellow, rust and red leaves were everywhere we looked and so beautiful. We walked along the beautiful Deschuttes River in the Old Mill District of Bend. We had dinner one night, downtown at McMenamin's Pub and Tavern.
Nick went fly fishing and we visited a couple of cute quilt shops.

One afternoon we took a beautiful drive northwest to the cute little town of Sisters, Oregon, and visited the famous quilt shop, The Stitching Post. I really want to return (maybe next July) for their Outdoor Quilt Show that is the second Saturday in July every year (2011 was the 36th Annual Outdoor Quilt Show).

On our return to Redding we stopped and visited Nick's sister and family in Yreka, CA. We hadn't been to their Historic Victorian home in many years, and we got to see all the remodeling they have done,and more "Fall Colors" as well. It was great catching up with family.

More photos of our trip on flickr!

2011-11-05T22:10:00.000-07:00

I just discovered that my last post was my 100th post!

How exciting!!

Apple Picking in Juilan

2011-10-20T09:06:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we took our motorhome to KQ Ranch RV

Resort in Julian, for Apple Days, and in honor of David's birthday.

Julian is about an hour and a half from us in the local mountains.

{Grandbabies and Proud Grandparents}

Nicole, David, 3 grandkids, Dan and Jeri joined us for a fun weekend of camping at the resort. The town was hopping, or as Gigi said, "It's bumping!!" (I think her daddy taught her that saying!) Lots of tourists were walking all around the small quaint town of Julian.

The weather was warm, sunny and beautiful all weekend. Nighttime was cooler but not too cold. We took walks around the resort, rode bikes, and relaxed in camp. Mommy, Hallee and Gigi slept in the motorhome with Yaya and Papa. It's always an adventure for Gigi to sleep in the motorhome. She was so excited about sleeping on her camping mat and in her very own sleeping bag on the floor of the motorhome!

On Saturday we drove just outside of Julian to pick apples at one of the local apple orchards. Gigi really had fun picking the apples off the trees and putting them into her very own bag.

She's at a great age (4 yr)!! It is pure joy to see her excitement, written all over her cute face at doing new and fun things. After apple picking, we enjoyed lunch "downtown" Julian and yummy famous apple pie ala mode!

Gigi loved riding her bike around the resort. She has a cute way of coaxing just about anyone to go with her! She also enjoyed feeding the nearby horse a big carrot. She's like an energizer bunny----she is go go go all day long--no napping for this "big" girl!

Brody (18 mon) had the most fun just being a boy and getting as dirty as possible. He loved playing with the set of MatchBox cars that were his daddy's, right in the dirt! He go go goes too!!

But he does finally give way to resting, here coming close to sleep on dad's lap! Daddy and brody slept in their tent!

The litttlest camper, Hallee (4 months) did a lot of cooing, sleeping and eating, but she also enjoyed the outdoors. She's been camping twice already at her young age. She loves being held, but she has to be facing everyone so she can see all around her. Mom just carries her around in the Ergo or Moby and she's fine.

Here she is sitting with Papa and talking up a storm! She's too cute!

You can see more Apple Days pictures here.

Cruising the Eastern Seaboard

2011-10-19T20:42:00.000-07:00

{Portland Head Light, Cape Elizabeth-Portland, Maine}

New England/Canada 9 Night Cruise

At the beginning of September we cruised up the eastern coastline of North America. We flew into Newark Liberty International Airport, and set sail on this adventure on the RCCL Explorer of the Seas, from the Cape Liberty Cruise Port, Bayonne, New Jersey. Our ports of call included: Portland, Maine; Bar Harbor, Maine (known to locals as BA HA BA !!); St John, New Brunswick, Canada; Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; and Boston, Massachusetts!

We cruised with our good friends, Gary and Cindy, and my mom and sister, Kathy.

Fun times were had by all on and off the ship.

{St John New Brunswick, Canada}

We saw a lot of history in these towns that are older than any in California. We walked on some original cobblestone streets, visited some famous lighthouses, Portland Head Light, Cape Elizabeth, Maine, and Peggy's Point Lighthouse, St Margaret's Bay, Nova Scotia, eat Lobster Rolls (Yum!), and Whole Maine Lobster

{I'll stick with Austrailian or Pacific Lobster tails, thank you! I didn't much care for the eyes of the lobster looking at me--so I jumped, thinking the lobster moved, and gave the waiter the biggest laugh of the day!!!!}.

In Halifax, Nova Scotia, we visited the cemetery where the victims of the Titanic were buried so many years ago. We took a few sightseeing tours, a Duck tour of old Boston and the oldest baseball park in the USA, Fenway Park (that's PAAAArk in Bostonian, long accent on short vowel sound!).

{ Nick is leaning on the infamous Green Monster at Fenway}

The ship was a large one, the largest cruise ship we've gone on. It could accommodate 3,800 passengers, but there were only 3,056 of us!!! It had a Promenade down the middle of the ship where the shops were located, a couple of bars and coffee shop, much like an indoor mall which was very cool and a great place to people watch.

For the first time we had a balcony room on the back (AFT) of the ship. It was great. The balcony was larger and we had no wind. Too bad it was not a hot super sunny trip. Weather was ok, mostly in the high 60's - 70's, some cloudy days, few drizzles too, but that didn't dampen our fun.

At the end of the cruise, Nick and I took the train from Newark to Philadelphia for a few days. What a pretty city Philly is. Of course we enjoyed Philly Cheesesteaks! We took a trolley tour around downtown, visited Independence Hall, saw the Liberty Bell, and visited Citizens Bank (baseball) Park, the home of the Phillies, where we had a fabulous tour. We even got to go into the dugout and the players' locker room! Very cool to see all the "behind the scenes" stuff!!

Cruising is a great way to get an overview of places we've never been, but it doesn't afford us any extended time in one place. The East Coast is so lush and green, everywhere, unlike most of California in the fall. The buildings and houses all look so different than what we are used to seeing on the West Coast. As it turned out we were too early to see the Fall Colors, but what we did see really impressed us. We plan to go back to the East Coast, hopefully, in the not too distant future, in our RV, and take more time to see and soak in the beauty of the New England states.

To see more of our pictures go to my flickr page.

I Wonder

2011-09-17T15:28:00.000-07:00

Hello blogland!!

It's been a while since I've blogged. I've been going through some old papers of my mom's and came across this beautiful poem my grandmother, her mother wrote in 1948. She penned it on a lined 4 x 6 page from a memo pad and entitled it, "I Wonder."

A flood of memories comes to mind when I see her handwriting, which is so familiar to me, even though I haven't seen it in so very many years. She was a wonderful person, loved by everyone. My sister and I called her Grandma, and the neighborhood called her Grandma Dodge because she was the neighborhood grandma for sure! She was such an amazing Godly woman, a true inspiration to me. She meant so much to me I honored her by giving her name to my daughter, Nicole Viola, who is also an amazing Godly woman and inspiration to me.

I Wonder

I wonder if one ever thanks

God for the beauty of a sunset,

Or for the laughter of

a child at play,

Or for the rain

that leaves our garden wet,

Or for the glory of the dawning day.

I Wonder

Viola Dodge 1948

Thank you, God, for the beauty of a sunset and the laughter of children at play,

(especially the play of my 4 grandchildren!).

Thank you, God Almighty, for the rain I do love, and how the rain provides nourishment for gardens everywhere on earth.

Thank you God, "for the Glory of the Dawning Day!"

Thank you God for every Dawning Day!

July Brown Bag Quilt Retreat

2011-07-13T15:51:00.000-07:00

I just returned from attending another Brown Bag Quilt Retreat in Buellton, our third retreat this year. (We are hoping to go to the November retreat, but we are only on the wait list right now).

We had so much fun as we always do, sewing pretty much non-stop from 8:30 am on Friday till 3 pm on Sunday. Ok, we did go back to our RV's or homes for some sleep--but not much. We sewed until 12:30 am Friday night and returned by 8:45 am. Saturday we sewed till 1:15 am and returned on Sunday morning by 8:30 am. Our husbands (Lynn's and mine) still think we are crazy, and they can't understand how we can stay inside sewing or quilting for that much time. We've told them it's not near enough time--we'd love a week long retreat!!

Here's a look at my Quilting BFF's from the retreat:

Nancy (also the Retreat Hostess with the Mostest!)

working on her Floral Block of the Month, preparing the blocks to be hand appliqued using the freezer paper method. She does beautiful applique work!! Here's her first two blocks:Lynn,

working on her Mystery Block of the month (her husband and mine hang out at the RV park, play darts and cards, and miss us while we are at the retreat!).

And, Dolores, another local,

sewing her blocks together on this very pretty quilt!

For this retreat I decided would work on finishing a few WISP's rather than starting a new project (another thing about sewing and quilting our husbands don't understand--starting a new project before finishing one!) So I pulled this project out of my closet, Love Ya Oodles, by Quilt Soup. I think I started it 4 years ago. I had gotten all the squares done but needed to put them all together. It took me a while to figure out where I was. (Note to self: make notes as to where I left off, should I leave a project to finish for years!!!)

Although the pattern calls for doing the applique prior to sewing the whole top together, I plan to use paperback fusible for my applique, so I chose to sew the top together first.It is still a WISP but I am much closer to finishing this quilt. I'm now in the process of choosing the fabrics for all the appliqued flowers and hope to get them sewn on in the next two weeks.

I also made two pillowcases and three more Batik Strippy Totes for friends. I just love making these bags for gifts!! Each one turns out so cute and I'm tempted to keep it.

With these 3 I have now made 19 of these pretty totes!!

I designed this quilt for a friend's first grandson. Her daughter's theme is turtles, so I made these happy turtles to applique on the quilt and I am so pleased with the way it turned out.
I just need to quilt and bind it, (again hopefully in the next two weeks!) and it will no longer be a WISP!

I felt very accomplished at the end of this retreat because I finished what I had planned to finish, a first for me! I usually try to finish way too many projects. (I did take a couple of additional projects just in case I had extra time! Wouldn't want to run of projects!) I'm sure I'm not alone when I say it's a great feeling when a quilter gets closer to completing a project, especially one that has been lingering in her "stash" closet!

4th of July

2011-07-06T18:25:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the 4th of July we had a BBQ and Pool Party. The weather was hot, and a bit muggy, but we had a great day filled with family and friends!

Flags were all around...These paper pinwheels were fashioned by Angelina, our creative daughter-in-law!

Sydney wore a red white & blue scarf to honor the 4th.

Even a sleeping baby Hallee (almost 4 weeks old!) wore a red white & blue bow!

Micah enjoyed yaya and papa's pool--usually he doesn't much care for going in a pool,

but since ours was 86 degrees, he seemed to love it, as did Brody...Alex, Micah and Angelina enjoying the pool...

Nicole and Angelina enjoy some time in the sun....while Gigi, Micah and Brody had fun on Micah's splish splash pool, too!

Everyone enjoyed Nick's tasty BBQ'd chicken (which had been marinated in his special secret sauce-recipe from his mom!), salads and chips & dip...

[L to R: Susie, Jenna Angelina & Micah, Papa Nick, Nicole and David]

Best part of the meal, of course, was Nicole's Yummy Patriotic Star Blueberry Cheecake, made from scratch and oh so yummy!!

After dinner Gigi and Brody drove the "John Deere" around the backyard--what fun!

At 8:30 we all headed to Bradley Park in San Marcos for the annual Fireworks show and it is didn't disappoint. Who doesn't like a fireworks show!

Micah seemed to like the lights but he definitely didn't like the noise. Gigi watched the fireworks with her hands on her ears, while Brody just chilled watching them from his stroller!!

As we celebrated Independence Day, we thought of those who have fought for our country to give us this day!

God Bless America!

Where I sew

2011-07-03T20:50:00.000-07:00

It's "Where I Sew" month over at the Pink Chalk Studio blog and during the month of July they will be doing virtual tours and "sharing a peek at the sewing spaces of some of [their] favorite designers and sewing enthusiasts. Real spaces where real people sew. "

So I thought I would share my sewing room and add it to their "mosaic of sewing rooms!"
I must say I love having a sewing room of my own. For most of my adult life, I sewed on our dining room table, as many sewers do. I didn't have an extra room to use for sewing or crafts, not until we moved into our dream house almost 10 years ago. I love the bright blue walls; they are so cheery.

A few years ago I got this wonderful sewing machine cabinet and table. It makes quilting so much easier and really any kind of sewing easier.
As you can see I sew in front of the window. I love being able to utilize the natural light during the day and being able to look outside while I sew.

I have a bookshelf to the left of my sewing table where I keep many of my patterns (in the baskets) and lots of quilting books. I also have a TV which I often have on, more for background noise.
To the right of my sewing table I have a 6 ft banquet table that I use for cutting my fabrics for clothes and for quilts. I also use it to pin and baste my quilts together before quilting them. I can easily move my chair from my sewing table to my cutting table which is really convenient.
Under my cutting table I keep projects I am working on or plan to work on, my Tutto rolling bag I use to take my sewing machine to quilt retreats, as well as my large bag that keeps all my quilting rulers.To the right of the cutting table I have a basket shelving unit that I keep lots of fabrics in, and to the right of it is my ironing board.My sewing room has a small walk-in closet where I have shelves for more fabric, batting and more projects in project bags--ready to take to a quilt retreat! Just last week I spent two days reorganizing and straightening all my fabrics. It feels so much better now that they are nice and neat.

For my birthday last month my wonderful hubby bought me a new sewing machine, a Pfaff Quilt Expression 4.0, which I love! It is going to make quilting those queen or king size quilts so much easier to quilt with the large 10" opening. I'm heading to a Brown Bag Quilt Retreat this week and am so excited to be taking my new sewing machine.
I have plans to add a design wall and to hang a couple of small quilts in my sewing room.
For now, I use my cutting table or the floor when designing a quilt's layout.

Teacup Collection Challenge

2011-06-30T10:30:00.000-07:00

I've been challenged.

I have to admit those who know me well know I am a collector.

I have several collections, including a teacup and tea pot collection. I also have a collection of all things "cats", cat figures, little cat books, handmade cat things, cat fabrics. I have a lot of "Precious Moments" collectibles in an oak curio cabinet. I don't collect them anymore mainly because my curio cabinet is full!!

So when Kris and Liz challenged any "teacup collectors" to share their collections I couldn't resist. My love of china teacups came from my grandmother when I was a little girl. I have several of her teacups in my collection now. These two are special because of the flowers on them. My grandmother loved purple flowers, especially violets and so do I. One of her middle names was Viola (Ida Viola Irene) and I game the same middle name to my daughter, Nicole Viola!)

This antique tea pot was my grandmother's too. Then when I was a teenager I bought a teacup and saucer in Victoria, BC, as my vacation souvenir. My hubby gave me this beautiful teapot many years ago!
Over the years I've added to my collection, including this saucer from England at Epcot, Walt Disney World, one of my favorites. Unfortunately, the cup broke one day ( I can't remember how).Here's another teacup with an old English town.

This teacup is in honor of my anniversary month, November, with November's flower being the the chrysanthemum.This teacup with the blue roses is one of my most favorite teacups!

This tea pot is special because of it's inscription, HOPE, my mother's name.I received this teacup and saucer from my mother-in-law's best friend, Pauline, from childhood;
she was a special friend to me as well.

Later, after the passing of my mother-in-law, Emily, I acquired several of her teacups to add to my collection.

This musical teapot was hers before it was mine as well.

My sweet daughter, Nicole, gave me this teacup, with the verse,
"In Your light we see the light," Psalm 36:9, because I also like Lighthouses.

Nicole also gave me this beautiful heart shaped teacup and saucer with a rose on it and the inscription, Love is like a Rose!This teapot was hand painted by a local San Diego artist.
{ OOPS! Did I forget to mention "we" have a collection of things relating to firefighters in our house?! Rather, it would be more appropriately termed a dedication...but that's for another blog!!}

I've stopped collecting as much as I used to. I don't buy every cat decoration I see anymore. I don't buy the annual "Precious Moments" figurine anymore. I have enough!!
(My friends would say I have "more than enough!")

I've narrowed my collecting to fabrics! One can never have too much fabric. Besides I have lots of projects to use my fabrics for, quilts for friends and babies, wallhangings and table runners for gifts, or clothes for my grandbabies.

I love teacups and tea pots I made 3 wallhangings for gifts using the blocks from My Sweet Tea pattern. Now I need to complete the last 3 blocks into a wallhanging for myself. Think I will finish it next week at my Brown Bag Quilt Retreat with my BFF's Lynn, Nancy and Dolores.

Our Trip to the Grand Canyon

2011-06-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

The picture above was taken on the North Rim looking towards the south.

To say the Grand Canyon is spectacular seems to be an understatement. It is truly amazing, awesome, magnificent, unbelievably gorgeous, impressive, grand, dramatic, stunning, remarkable fantastic, dazzling, sensational, and utterly breathtaking!! Words can hardly describe it, so we took lots of pictures to try to capture the beauty of the Grand Canyon!!This is called "Angel's Window" and if you look closely through the window you can see the Colorado River running on the bottom of the Grand Canyon!

Neither Nick nor I have ever seen the Grand Canyon. We were blown away. It is so much larger and more awesome than either of us ever imagined!! Everywhere you looked was unbelievable scenery at both the North Rim and the South Rim.

We stayed 3 nights at the North Rim Grand Canyon Lodge in this small cabin (above) on the edge of the Rim.

We stayed one night at El Tovar Hotel on the South Rim (below). The views were all around us!!!

This is a view from the South Rim looking to the north.

We went with a large group, about 60 people. 30 were going to hike the Rim to Rim, 23.9 miles from the North to the South, including our daughter's in laws and our good friends, Dan and Jeri. Nick was supposed to be one of the 30 hikers. Unfortunately, he was not able to make the hike as he had hurt his back a couple weeks before the trip while helping our son move. He still plans to do the hike once he has fully recovered (either with a group going in October or next May).

Pictured above, Dan and Jeri, Krren and Nick
taken on the South Rim

Be sure to check out all our pictures of the Grand Canyon on my flickr page.

Some of my Projects in 2011

2011-06-13T18:00:00.000-07:00

Not only have I been behind in my blogging, but I haven't blogged about any of my sewing, quilting or knitting projects yet this year, and the year is just about half over already!! So I decided to share some of the projects I've been working on and have finished.

I've made more than a dozen of this tote (using Bunny Hill's Jelly Bags Pattern) for friends, as well as my daughter and daughter-in-law.

Each one was made with different Batik or cotton fabrics. I love coordinating the fabrics and finding just the right order in which to sew them together, so that each bag is unique. Everyone who has received one has loved theirs too!!

I made this Red and Light Blue Nine Patch baby quilt for one of my daughter's closest friends. She picked the colors, but I picked the fabrics and the pattern. I used soft, red minkie for the back for this special little girl! I finished it just before little Eliza turned "1."

I didn't want to weigh down this baby quilt so I just stitched in the ditch around the squares.

I then finished Brody's Hawaiian Quilt, the piecing and machine quilting, a week before his first birthday! I had the top done for months, but since I knew he wasn't going to be using or needing it, (I made it large enough to fit on a twin bunk bed), I waited to finish it!

I learned a lesson too! If soft minkie is used for the backing, as for this quilt, it's better to do large stippling or straight stitching through the blocks. It's pretty hard to do "curly q's" or "loops" on a domestic sewing machine. My "curly q's" came out pretty tiny!!

Last year I started knitting again, after more than a twenty year hiatus. Now I'm knitting most nights while watching TV. I can also knit while we are on the road in our RV.
I've knit many toddler beanies, for our grandkids, as well as friends' kids, including this one for our grandson Micah. I made this one in SD Padres' colors!!

This is a "Thank You" quilt for my new BFF and hubby for their wonderful hospitality!! The pattern is called "Gadabout Quilt" from Eleanor Burns' book , Still Stripping After 25 Years. This quilt was really fun to make and I love how the pattern shows in these fabrics. I quilted it by stitching in the ditch and using a laurel border stencil for the large border.
Thanks again Donna and Rod!!

I made matching Hawaiian shirts for Brody and Micah for their 1st birthdays. I haven't seen them wear them yet. I'll add a picture of them when they do!

I knit this dress for Gigi. I had the worst pattern instructions to follow, so once I basically rewrote the pattern, and started over several times. I actually had it almost complete twice and I reknit the ruffle on the bottom 4X before I finally got the look I wanted. She and I love the lacy ruffle on the bottom!!

Lastly, and certainly not least,
here's our newest granddaughter, Hallee Hope, 2 days old, modeling the new Baby Car Seat cover I made for her!! She looks so tiny in that big seat (she was just under 6 lbs), but she'll grow into it with time!!

Camping at Fort Bragg

2011-06-13T15:24:00.000-07:00

Another AB Diving Trip

We spent a week on the Northern California coast, with our best friends, the Nances, in one of the most beautiful campgrounds we've ever stayed in.(L to R: Rick, Lynn, Nick, Eric)

Located just south of Fort Bragg, one of the best things about the Pomo RV Park and Campground is the fact that they have many double sites and these double sites are surrounded by tall trees and shrubs that give you lots of privacy!! Some of the many flowers were beginning to bloom and everything was so green!!

We had cool weather and even some rain, but we really still had fun as we always do when we spend time with the Nances!!

Lynn and I stayed at camp to watch Lynn's granddaughters, while Nick, Rick, Eric, Emily and Dave went abalone diving in the freezing Pacific Ocean. We were told the visibility was just about the best they'd ever seen in 25+ years of diving. Everyone got their limit,

The Ab's in their shells

The divers, abs + little ones,
L to R: Nick, Eric, Isabelle, Dave, Rick Emily and Olivia

There's nothing like fresh abalone dinner!! Luckily they dove a second day so we were able to bring some home, frozen, for the next best thing to fresh for another dinner!!

Can't wait to go again next spring!!

Check out more pictures on my flickr page>

Big Birthdays!!

2011-06-12T19:16:00.000-07:00

Brody Turns "1"

It's hard to believe tiny Brody Noah Nicholas Bennett has been in our family for a year now. It truly seems like just yesterday that his mommy, daddy and big sister, Gigi, picked him up from the hospital in Fullerton, to bring him home. But on April 10th, we celebrated Brody's 1st birthday and the anniversary of the day Brody joined the Bennett (and Pavone) family!

Born on April 6th, he was so little, with such thin little legs, who would have thought he'd get so chubby?!Friends and family enjoyed hot dogs, chips and yummy cupcakes at the Bennett's new home on a bright and sunny, spring day! Brody's party theme was "Opening Day for Baseball" since his birthday is so close to Opening Day. So the decorations reflected the theme.Brody was his happy self all day. He smiled when all sang "happy birthday" to him. When it was time for his cake, he started slow, eating only one sprinkle, with a little bit of frosting. Mommy cut the cupcake in half and he devoured the whole thing, one half at a time, every last drop!! Not walking yet, but he's always on the move, starting to climb and get into things he shouldn't!

Gigi Turns "4"

Gigi's birthday celebration was actually a whole weekend of celebrations (just like the "true" big girl she is!) On the morning of the May 5th, she had a playdate birthday party at the park with her preschool friends. Her favorite gift was the "Fancy Nancy" dress-up dress she received. Then in the afternoon, she had more of her friends come to "Gigi's Ice Cream Parlor" for another birthday party!!! Her friends came all "dressed up" in their favorite princess dresses, a very popular theme for 4 year olds!

The morning of her actual birthday mommy and daddy and brother Brody took her out to the Original Pancake House for chocolate chip pancakes!!! In the afternoon mommy and daddy took Gigi bowling for for the first time. She had so much fun!!

Later that afternoon they returned for dinner and Gigi modeled the new dress I made for her.

On Sunday Gigi enjoyed a family birthday celebration at home. Granny, Granpa, Yaya and Papa came over for mommy's homemade, yummy fish tacos and more ice cream!!

Micah Turns "1"

Micah is a bundle of energy and laughs all the time. He started walking a few weeks before his first birthday and there's no stopping him now!!

He turned one on May 12th. The plan was I would drive up to Costa Mesa on his birthday for a celebratory dinner. Nick would drive the motorhome up on Friday and we'd spend the weekend at Newport Dunes, with Micah's Mustache Party to commence on Sunday. But, as luck would have it, it didn't turn out to be a quiet weekend. Alex and Angelina had decided to move and they needed to move the Friday and Saturday before Micah's party! Long story short, it was an exhausting weekend of a hectic move, but everything did get moved to their new place, prior to the party.

The party was a huge success. Family and friends met at a park in Irvine. Despite rain for a couple of hours in the morning, it turned out to be a clear, sunny day, a bit cool due to a bit of wind! Everyone got into the spirit of things donning the black mustaches!! All enjoyed a great spread of food and delicious cupcakes made by Angelina, although Micah didn't seem to really like his cake--mom had to feed it to him.

Grandkids are truly blessings and so much fun to be around. Their laughter is contagious and we can't help but smile whenever we are with them. They seem to grow so fast, too fast!!!!

Our Nation's Capital

2011-06-11T23:45:00.000-07:00

We spent a fun filled week in Washington DC back in March, as well as a few days in Virginia with friends. We enjoyed being tourists in our nation's capital,
visiting many of the presidential monuments, (Jefferson Memorial)

war memorials, the Capital building, the Supreme Court building, the Library of Congress, Arlington National Cemetery, Mount Vernon, and much more. (Washington Memorial)

We met up with friends while we were there and enjoyed some sightseeing with them as well. One of our favorite sights were the Cherry Blossom Trees beginning to bloom all along the National Mall - breathtaking!! One thing's for sure, there is too much history there to see in one visit. So we know we will return!! This trip made us proud to be Americans.

You can see our pictures from this trip on my flickr page:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/72308330@N00/sets/72157626558539857/

2011 SD Padres

2011-03-10T18:00:00.000-08:00

Spring Training in Arizona

Last week we spent a week in El Mirage, Arizona, for Baseball Spring Training. Alex flew in for a couple of days; Nicole, David and family drove over for the weekend, as did David's parents and his sis, Carly and hubby, Chase. It was great spending time together. We had warm weather, sunny weather during the days and cool evenings.We saw a couple of games at Peoria Sports Complex where the SD Padres train (Padres won one and lost one);got players' autographs, even Manager Bud Black's, shown below tossing the signed baseball back to Alex!Nick and Alex drove to Mesa, AZ, to see another game at the D'backs new Spring Training Facility (Padres won!) We all went to Camelback Ranch in Glendale, AZ, where the Dodgers train, to watch the Dodgers v Giants (Giants won). Of course, I am told, winning doesn't matter at Spring Training, but it is always great when our team wins!

We rode bikes, took walks in the RV park, went to the pool (Gigi loves to swim), and hit a bucket of balls at the driving range. Fun times!!

Seems like this trip has become a new tradition for our family. We're hoping Alex and his family of 3 will join us next year, along with Nicole's family of 5 next yr, although we aren't sure where everyone will sleep. Someone might have to get a hotel room since the RV Resort we stay at (Pueblo RV Resort) doesn't allow tents; and our motorhome, while huge, isn't huge enough to sleep 6 adults, one dog, 1- 4 yr old, 2- almost 2 yr olds and 1- almost 1 year old!!!!! There's just not enough beds or enough floor space to go around. At least Nick and I know we have a nice big comfy bed and so does Sydney.

More pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/72308330@N00/sets/72157626115826625/

Nicole's pictures are here.

Alex's very original and creative pictures can be seen at alexanderpavone photography

Incredible! Unforgetable!! Amazing !!!

2011-02-19T15:00:00.000-08:00

PANAMA CANAL CRUISE

We set sail on January 2nd on a 13 Night Panama Canal Cruise, the highlight of which was watching our huge Celebrity cruise ship, from an observation tower on shore, go through the Gatun Locks in Panama, the last set of locks a ship goes through heading eastbound. Words can't really describe it. It was truly incredible, unforgettable and amazing!!!

We went with two other couples, friends we have been camping with for almost 20 years and had a great trip! (L to R Nick, Karen Sue, Bill, Robin, Pete)

We had great weather, warm and sunny for most of the cruise. We hit some rough seas and high winds, with a little rain once we were heading to Fort Lauderdale, the last two nights and days of the cruise. We saw some beautiful sights: Cabo San Lucas (we ziplined here-even me the biggest scaredy cat of all!!); the coastline of Acapulco Bay and the famous cliff divers (they are crazy!! jumping from about 75 feet or higher; they dive blindly over the cliff's edge into a very narrow inland on the coast-they watch the tides); Huatulco, a small Mexican village; the rain forest near Puntarenas, Cost Rica; Panama; and the fortress and Inquisition Palace in Cartegena, Colombia.

As I mentioned before, the highlight of the cruise was going through the Panama Canal. [L: the canal and 1st lock our ship is going into] [R: Gatun Locks as our ship came into 1st lock]

There are actually two canals and the locks in each canal are 110 feet wide and the ship is 106 feet wide--not much room for error. The ship is guided in the canal by two locomotives that run along the sides of the canal. Cables are connected from the locomotive to the ship to merely help keep the ship centered in the canal (seen in picture on the right at the back of the ship). They do not pull the ship through in any way. The ship goes through 2 sets of 3 locks on its own power and with the gravity of the water to raise it up 85 feet above sea level on the Pacific Ocean west side, and then gravity lowers it 85 feet back to the sea level of the Caribbean Sea on the east side.

One of the most amazing facts about the Panama Canal is that approximately 150 million gallons of fresh water is lost every time a ship goes through the locks of the canal. Interesting enough, the salt water of the oceans never mixes with the fresh water in the locks. All the water used by the canal comes from rain, stored in the Gatun Lake which is in the middle area of the canal. Panama gets about 150 inches+ per year. There has always been enough water to support the use of the canal every day of the year. It costs about $275,000 for a cruise ship or cargo ship to go through the locks; cost is based on the weight of the freight and the length of the ship, and ships have to pay the passage fee in advance of their scheduled time to go through the canal.

Currently, the existing locks and canal are almost 100 years old, and they are in the process of building a third canal, north of the existing locks with an estimated finish date in 2014. The new canal will be wider to accommodate the new larger cruise ships and cargo ships. They have also changed the design and how the locks will work so that they will be able to save approximately 60% of the fresh water that is now lost to the oceans on either side of the canal.

The Panama Canal is definitely one of the Wonders of the World everyone should see. Pictures just can't do it justice!

We then spent 4 more days in South Florida, once we arrived at our final port of Fort Lauderdale. We had a beautiful view of the Intercoastal from our hotel room in South Miami, the Sunset Beaches area. From there we drove down to the Keys to Key West. We thought the drive would be about an 1 1/2 hours, but it was actually 4 1/2 hours. It's a two lane highway that is made of many bridges between the Keys (islands) with a speed limit of 45 mph! We stopped for lunch near Key Largo and eat overlooking the beautiful teal green waters of the gulf! We stayed a night in Key West and joined their big nightly celebration of the sunset on the gulf, a ritual for the locals and tourists alike. We walked around the picturesque town and took a trolley tour of the many historic sights, including the southernmost point of the USA which is about 90 miles north of Cuba and 150 miles from Miami!! We headed back to Miami and stayed near the Everglades where we took a airboat tour of the everglades at Safari Park. We saw hundreds of alligators--it was pretty amazing. We visited the Everglades National Park as well before flying home from Fort Lauderdale.

All our pictures of this trip can be seen on my flickr page:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/72308330@N00/sets/72157625878770940/

2011-01-26T23:10:00.000-08:00

A Quilt for the Retiree!

Over the years Nick has been collecting patches of other fire departments. He would exchange them by mail or while visiting an out of town department. He kept them in a drawer or two in his office at the department, or at home, until I decided to make him a quilt to display them. The finished quilt was a surprise for Nick's retirement. I only shared a small view in a previous post. Here's "the chief" and his Fire Patches Quilt!

I started the quilt a few years ago when our first grandbaby was born. The intention was that it could be hung in his office....but then life got in the way: holidays and family get togethers, big events and small, babysitting and playing with Gigi, vacations and two more granbabies. Other projects took priority and the blocks ended up in the closet of my sewing room along with several other UFO's (unfinished objects-projects)! Months later I put all the blocks together, and then completed the quilt just in time for his retirement last October.

One of our dearest friends embroidered all the ranks Nick held as a firefighter, which I appliqued on the top of the quilt. Just under the ranks, I also appliqued pictures of Nick; on the left is a picture of him on his first day as a firefighter for the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Department; on the right is a picture of him when he became the Fire Chief 5 years ago. Between the two pictures are the dates he was a member of the RSF Fire Department, also embroidered by our friend, Lynn (thanks Lynn!).

As an extra special touch, online I found the 9-11 Patch Project (a project established to pay tribute to the Firefighters, EMT's, Police Officers and Military personnel lost on 9/11 or as a result of 9/11) and ordered a special tribute patch for Nick's quilt. It is seen above.
We will never forget!

Nick's Fire Patches Quilt is now prominently hung in our home for all to see.

This quilt was a labor of love for a well deserved man who dedicated his life to serving others.

HOLIDAY FUN!

2011-01-24T15:46:00.000-08:00

Christmastime at the Pavones

December is always a busy time of year, what with all the decorating, shopping, wrapping, writing our annual Christmas letter, addressing and mailing the cards, sewing gifts, more shopping, more wrapping, baking, cooking, cleaning, eating, more cooking, cleaning, and eating, as well as celebrating, cheering, and praying! WOW! I'm exhausted just remembering how busy we were.

But even with all the busyness, it is a wonderful time to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of our Lord Jesus. It's especially nice to gather our family together, and our time is made more special with our 3 little ones, Papa and the boys, Micah (7 months)on left and Brody (8months)on right,
sitting on Papa's "bike"!Gigi (3 1/2 yrs) modeling her new, custom Cinderella Princess made by Yaya!

You can see all our pictures of December by clicking this link, http://www.flickr.com/photos/72308330@N00/sets/72157625774099641/

There's more Christmas day pics on Alex's flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/14000165@N05/sets/72157625670603311/

Retirement is Grand!

2010-12-26T16:00:00.000-08:00

The Fire Chief Has Retired!

(Jim Ashcraft, President of the RSFFD Board of Directors honors Nick.)

It's official! Nick has retired after 35+ years in the fire service. He started as a paid call volunteer "fireman" in Pismo Beach, California, while attending Cal Poly State University, in the mid 70's. He soon discovered he had found what he wanted to do with his life. After working with Pismo for about 3 1/2 years, and much testing with several fire departments, he was hired by the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District in San Diego County, after we were married.
So we moved to Encinitas the month before he started at the "Ranch," and "the rest is history" as they say.

He was the first Fire Chief of the RSFPD to have gone through all the ranks: fireman (now called firefighter), engineer, lieutenant, captain, Training Officer, Fire Marshall, Deputy Chief of Operations, and lastly the Fire Chief. He spent almost 20 years of his career as a chief officer.

(Nick, DennyNeville, friend, MC and fellow retired Deputy Chief, his wife, Kandi and Karen)

To say he was well respected in his profession would be an understatement. One might think I am prejudiced. But those who were at his retirement party were witnesses to the honor his professional peers and friends paid to him!(Tony Michel, friend and new fire chief of RSFFD and Nick)

He dedicated his life to serving others. He always gave his all when he was on the job. We are so proud of him and his accomplishments!The Battalion chiefs and Nick; from l to r: Gary Snavely, retired, Jim Sturtevant, Fred Cox, Mike Gibbs
and Bret Davidson)

Check out all the pictures we have of this big event and Nick's fire career on my flickr page:

Nick's Fire Career: http://www.flickr.com/photos/72308330@N00/sets/72157624595026485/

Nick's Retirement Celebration: http://www.flickr.com/photos/72308330@N00/sets/72157625553609249/

SOUL Encouragement

2010-11-07T22:27:00.000-08:00

Your future is full of...

HOPE because God is working on your behalf.
In all things God works for the good of those who love Him. ROMANS 8:28

JOY because God has a plan for you.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "...plans to give you hope and a future." JEREMIAH 29:11

PEACE because God will be wherever you go.
I am with you always. MATTHEW 28:20

LOVE because God deeply cares for you.
How wide and long and deep and high is the love of Christ. EPHESIANS 3:18

STRENGTH because God gives you everything you need.
I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. PHILLIPIANS 4:13

CONFIDENCE because God made you who you are.
God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. GENESIS 1:31

COURAGE because God can do more than you can imagine!
With God all things are possible. MATTHEW 19:26

Filling My Soul

2010-10-25T10:05:00.000-07:00

I was reading a few friends' blogs and came across this wonderful saying over at Peg's that seems fitting for today! Such a great reminder:

Every now and then,
when the world sits just right,
a gentle breath of heaven
fills my soul with delight...

A SAD GOODBYE

2010-10-23T12:14:00.001-07:00

A BEST FRIEND

Today was a sad day. We had to make a really tough decision. Today we said goodbye to Lacy, our beloved Brittany Spaniel. She was a part of our family for the last 9 years. She was a great dog! She started life as a "hunting dog, a Flusher." She was our best friend, Rick's dog first. Rick gave her to us when she was 3 because he knew she'd be a great gentle family dog!
He knew we would give her a good home.

She loved to go camping with us. She loved to be close by us at all times. She was a "mother" to Sydney ( a lab and Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever mix!)
when we got her almost 5 years ago as a puppy. Sydney and Lacy played and had fun together all the time, until Lacy went blind 3 years ago. Lacy loved to go for walks. Then their roles reversed some, and Sydney always looked out for Lacy, helping out of the pool or helping to guide Lacy when we called the dogs into the house. We didn't want Lacy to suffer or be in pain. So we made the only decision we could make when the vet told us her eyes were degrading, a painful process for a dog. We tried to convince ourselves that she was acting better and that she might not be in pain. But in the end we knew what had to be done so that she wouldn't suffer anymore.

Lacy will be missed by our whole family.
We loved her so much and she loved us back.
Now Sydney keeps walking all over the house looking for her friend and whining....so sad.
Saying goodbye to a best friend like Lacy is always hard.

Another CUTEST GRANBABIES Post!!!

2010-10-04T09:32:00.000-07:00

ALL SMILES

I'm smiling today--it's another happy day, following a happy weekend of spending time with our kids and our grandbabies. Little ones can do that to you--melt your heart and force you to smile just because they are so precious and cute and cuddly. I think I've mentioned in a previous post that we have the cutest grandbabies. Well I am telling you again-they are the cutest. If there's any doubt just check out these little darlings.

We spent Saturday morning with Gigi, Brody Nicole and David. For some reason Gigi is into nicknames and making up other various words. She loves to talk and talk and talk. (Guess she takes after her mom, her Yaya and her Papa!). She likes to repeat, over and over, phrases that seem to really impress her.

Gigi: "Your phone didn't answer! Your phone didn't answer!"
Me: "That's because I was in the shower."
Gigi: "Your phone didn't answer cuz you were in the shower. Your phone didn't answer cuz you were in the shower.............." I smile and laugh!

For quite a while Gigi has been calling Papa, Popie and then just Pop! Now I thought Yaya was short enough that it wouldn't need a nickname. Not so! Recently she gave me a nickname, too. Yaya has become: Yai (pronounced "yi"). I smile and laugh!

Brody will be 6 months old in a couple of days. He has found his toes!!He is rolling over and over and almost sitting up. He can balance a bit while sitting before he rolls over again! He is all smiles and talking quite a bit (probably getting ready to carry on a conversation with his big sister one day very soon!). His smile is contagious, and I can't help but smile and laugh when he giggles.

Sunday we drove to Orange County to spend the afternoon with Micah, almost 5 months, and Alex and Angelina. Even though he is 5 weeks younger than Brody, Micah is almost the same size. I think Brody may be longer but Micah may soon pass Brody in the weight department. Micah wins in the hair department-he still has a full head of hair; Brody's hair is just starting to grow! Micah is a bit more chubby, but oh those chubby cheeks are so cute and when he smiles, (he's a bit more stingy with the smiles,probably because he doesn't see us that much) he's adorable! Again I just have to smile and laugh when I see him!

So you see, I just can't help but smile when I'm with our cute granbabies!

CGQC Goals for September/October

2010-09-20T17:59:00.000-07:00

MY GOALS AND A FEW FINISHES
FOR THE CHARMING GIRLS QUILT CLUB

I know, I am late posting my goals for the Charming Girls Quilt Club. It's already September 2oth..........dare I say I've been busy. It seems we've been gone a lot in the last 3 months: a wonderful trip to Yellowstone National Park, a couple of long weekend camping/RV trips to Pismo Beach and Julian, a couple of day trips to visit our grandbabies, and I spent a few days in Simi Valley with my mom.

In between these travels, I have managed to sew and complete a few small projects, also listed on my sidebar under OPAM finished projects:

(1)several pillowcases for the Conker Cancer Project in conjunction with Project 9 of Craft Hope (my daughter, Nicole and I hosted a few friends one night
and we all made pillowcases to donate)(2)2 sets of placemats for gifts (one set I forgot to photo so will have to post it later) (3)re-made the "cupcake" apron for my d-i-l, Angelina;
(4)a new "Charger" dress for my granddaughter, Gigi;
and (5) my husband's "Fire Patches" Quilt. Below is a preview pic, full pictures and details will be in a future post, following the "chief's" retirement at the end of October!
I've been working on a couple of baby quilts both baby quilt tops still to be completed, pinned, quilted and bound.
I hope to finish them both by the end of October.

Other projects I hope to also finish include my "Moose Junction"
quilt by Mckenna Ryan. I made the top at the February quilt retreat
and it's time to complete it!

I need to add another border to make it into a small lap quilt,
then I need to pin, quilt and bind it.
I think I will finally make the Moose tablerunner, also by Mckenna Ryan,
pictured here in an earlier post.

This coming weekend we will head north once again, to meet our Redding buddies at the Flying Flags RV Resort for yet another Brown Bag Quilt Retreat,
our last one of 2010! Here's to a great weekend with friends and lots of quilting!!

2010-09-11T06:05:00.000-07:00

HONORING AMERICAN HEROES

As all of America remembers and mourns the horrific events of September 11, 2001, on this day, the 9th anniversary, it is fitting that we remember all those who died that day, and the families they left behind. (PICTURE TO LEFT TAKEN FROM THIS SITE)

There were about 3,ooo victims, including working people, innocent people, 72 police officers, and 343 firefighters of the FDNY, who gave their lives to save the lives of others, without any regard for themselves. They did it because that is what they do. They save lives and protect property.
Being a firefighter isn't just a job or a career. It is a true calling. Those who accept that calling know that at any given time they might be faced with such a tragedy, as 9/11 was, that they might not return to their families or the job they love. I know a bit about this because I've been married to a dedicated firefighter, and the Chief, for almost 32 years. All those connected to the fire service feel the deep pain and loss of these brave men.

Last year my husband and I had the privilege to visit ground zero and the FDNY Firefighter MemoriaL Wall where each and every name of all 343 firefighters is forever engraved for all to see. It truly touched our souls.

These courageous firefighters (aged 22 to 63 years) deserve our honor, respect, remembrance, and gratitude, for their selfless dedication to mankind, and they should be remembered by name (A complete list with pictures of the firefighters can be seen by clicking here.):

Joseph Agnello, 35, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Brian G. Ahearn, 43, Huntington, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Eric Allen, 44, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Richard Dennis Allen, 31, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

James Amato, 43, Ronkonkoma, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Calixto Anaya, 35, Suffern, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Joseph Angelini, 63, Lindenhurst, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Joseph Angelini, 38, Lindenhurst, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Faustino Apostol, 55, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

David Gregory Arce, 36, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Louis Arena, 32, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Carl Asaro, 39, Middletown, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Gregg Arthur Atlas, 45, Howells, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Gerald Atwood, 38, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Gerard Jean Baptiste, 35, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Matthew Barnes, 37, Monroe, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Arthur T. Barry, 35, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Steven J. Bates, 42, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Carl John Bedigian, 35, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Stephen Elliot Belson, 51, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

John P. Bergin, 39, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Paul Michael Beyer, 37, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Peter Alexander Bielfeld, 44, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Brian Bilcher, 36, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Carl Vincent Bini, 44, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Christopher Joseph Blackwell, 42, Patterson, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael L. Bocchino, 45, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Frank Bonomo, 42, Port Jefferson, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Gary R. Box, 37, North Bellmore, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael Boyle, 37, Westbury, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Kevin H. Bracken, 37, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael Emmett Brennan, 27, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Peter Brennan, 30, Ronkonkoma, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. Daniel Brethel, 43, Farmingdale, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. Patrick J. Brown, 48, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Andrew Brunn, 28
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. Vincent Brunton, 43, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Ronald Paul Bucca, 47, Tuckahoe, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Greg Joseph Buck, 37, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. William F. Burke, 46, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

John Patrick Burnside, 36, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas M. Butler, 37, Kings Park, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Patrick Byrne, 39, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

George Cain, 35, Massapequa, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Salvatore B. Calabro, 38, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. Frank Callahan, 51, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael Cammarata, 22, Huguenot, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Brian Cannizzaro, 30, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Dennis M Carey, 51, Wantagh, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael Scott Carlo, 34, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Peter Carroll, 42, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael T. Carroll, 39, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas Anthony Casoria, 29, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael Joseph Cawley, 32, Bellmore, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Vernon Paul Cherry, 49, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Nicholas P. Chiofalo, 39, Selden, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

John Chipura, 39, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael Clarke, 27, Prince's Bay, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Steven Coakley, 36, Deer Park, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Tarel Coleman, 32
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

John Michael Collins, 42, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Robert Cordice, 28, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Ruben D. Correa, 44, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

James Raymond Coyle, 26, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Robert James Crawford, 62, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. John Crisci, 48, Holbrook, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas Patrick Cullen, 31, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Robert Curatolo, 31, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Edward Alexander D'Atri, 38, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael D. D'Auria, 25, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Scott Matthew Davidson, 33, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Edward James Day, 45, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Martin DeMeo, 47, Farmingville, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

David Paul Derubbio, 38, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Andrew Desperito, 44, Patchogue, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Gerard Dewan, 35, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

George DiPasquale, 33, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Kevin W. Donnelly, 43, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Kevin Christopher Dowdell, 46, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Gerard Duffy, 53, Manorville, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. Martin Egan, 36, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael J. Elferis, 27, College Point, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Michael Esposito, 41, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Francis Esposito, 32, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Robert Edward Evans, 36, Franklin Square, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. Thomas Farino, 37, Bohemia, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Terrence Patrick Farrell, 45, Huntington, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. Joseph Farrelly, 47, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lee S. Fehling, 28, Wantagh, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Alan D. Feinberg, 48, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael Curtis Fiore, 46, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. John R. Fischer, 46, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Andre G. Fletcher, 37, North Babylon, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

John Joseph Florio, 33, Oceanside, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Michael N. Fodor, 53, Warwick, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas Foley, 32, West Nyack, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

David Fontana, 37, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Robert J. Foti, 42, Albertson, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Andrew Fredericks, 40, Suffern, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Peter L. Freund, 45, Westtown, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas Gambino, 48, Babylon, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Charles William Garbarini, 44, Pleasantville, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas A. Gardner, 39, Oceanside, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Matthew David Garvey, 37
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Bruce Gary, 51, Bellmore, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Gary Geidel, 44, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Denis P. Germain, 33, Tuxedo Park, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Vincent Francis Giammona, 40, Valley Stream, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

James A. Giberson, 43, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Ronnie Gies, 43, Merrick, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Paul John Gill, 34, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. John F. Ginley, 37, Warwick, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Jeffrey Giordano, 46, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

John Giordano, 46, Newburgh, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Keith Alexander Glascoe, 38, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

James Michael Gray, 34, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Jose A. Guadalupe, 37, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Geoffrey E. Guja, 47, Lindenhurst, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Joseph Gullickson, 37, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

David Halderman, 40, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Vincent Gerard Halloran, 43, North Salem, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Robert Hamilton, 43, Washingtonville, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Sean Hanley, 35, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas Hannafin, 36, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Dana Hannon, 29, Suffern, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Daniel Harlin, 41, Kent, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Harvey L. Harrell, 49, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Stephen Gary Harrell, 44, Warwick, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. Thomas Theodore Haskell, 37, Massapequa, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Timothy Haskell, 34, Seaford, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. Terence S. Hatton, 41, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael Helmut Haub, 34, Roslyn Heights, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Michael K. Healey, 42, East Patchogue, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

John Heffernan, 37, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Ronnie Lee Henderson, 52, Newburgh, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Joseph P. Henry, 25, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

William Henry, 49, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas Hetzel, 33, Elmont, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. Brian Hickey, 47, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Timothy Higgins, 43, Farmingville, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Richard Bruce Van Hine, 48, Greenwood Lake, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Jonathan R. Hohmann, 48, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas P. Holohan, 36, Chester, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Joseph G. Hunter, 31, South Hempstead, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. Walter Hynes, 46, Belle Harbor, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Jonathan Lee Ielpi, 29, Great Neck, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. Frederick Ill, 49, Pearl River, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

William Johnston, 31, North Babylon, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Andrew Jordan, 35, Remsenburg, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Karl Henri Joseph, 25, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Anthony Jovic, 39, Massapequa, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Angel Luis Juarbe, 35, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Vincent D. Kane, 37, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Paul Hanlon Keating, 38, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Richard John Kelly, 50, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas Richard Kelly, 38, Riverhead, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas W. Kelly, 51, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas J. Kennedy, 36, Islip Terrace, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Ronald T. Kerwin, 42, Levittown, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael Kiefer, 25, Hempstead, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Robert King, 36, Bellerose Terrace, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Scott Kopytko, 32, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

William Krukowski, 36, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Kenneth Kumpel, 42, Cornwall, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas Joseph Kuveikis, 48, Carmel, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

David LaForge, 50, Port Richmond, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

William David Lake, 44, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Robert T. Lane, 28, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Peter J. Langone, 41, Roslyn Heights, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Scott Larsen, 35, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Joseph Gerard Leavey, 45, Pelham, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Neil Leavy, 34, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Daniel F. Libretti, 43, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Robert Thomas Linnane, 33, West Hempstead, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael F. Lynch, 33, New Hyde Park, N.Y.
Firefighter, Ladder 4, New York Fire Department

Michael Francis Lynch, 30, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, Engine 40, New York Fire Department

Michael J. Lyons, 32, Hawthorne, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Patrick Lyons, 34, South Setauket, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Joseph Maffeo, 30, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

William Mahoney, 38, Bohemia, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Joseph E. Maloney, 46, Farmingville, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Charles Joseph Margiotta, 44, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Kenneth Joseph Marino, 40, Monroe, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

John Marshall, 35, Congers, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Peter Martin, 43, Miller Place, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Paul Richard Martini, 37, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Joseph A. Mascali, 44, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Keithroy Maynard, 30, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Brian McAleese, 36, Baldwin, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

John McAvoy, 47, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas McCann, 46, Manalapan, N.J.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. William E. McGinn, 43, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Dennis P. McHugh, 34, Sparkill, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Robert Dismas McMahon, 35, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Robert William McPadden, 30, Pearl River, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Terence A. McShane, 37, West Islip, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Timothy Patrick McSweeney, 37, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Martin E. McWilliams, 35, Kings Park, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Raymond Meisenheimer, 46, West Babylon, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Charles Mendez, 38, Floral Park, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Steve Mercado, 38, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Douglas C. Miller, 34, Port Jervis, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Henry Miller, 52, Massapequa, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Robert Minara, 54, Carmel, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas Mingione, 34, West Islip, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Paul Thomas Mitchell, 46, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. Louis Joseph Modafferi, 45, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Dennis Mojica, 50, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Manuel Mojica, 37, Bellmore, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Carl Molinaro, 32, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael Montesi, 39, Highland Mills, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. Thomas Moody, 45, Stony Brook, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Vincent S. Morello, 34, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Christopher Mozzillo, 27, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Richard Muldowney, 40, Babylon, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael D. Mullan, 34, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Dennis Michael Mulligan, 32, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Raymond E. Murphy, 46, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Robert B. Nagel, 55, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

John Napolitano, 33, Ronkonkoma, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Peter Allen Nelson, 42, Huntington Station, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Gerard Terence Nevins, 46, Campbell Hall, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Dennis O'Berg, 28, Babylon, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Captain Daniel O'Callaghan, 42, Smithtown, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Douglas Oelschlager, 36, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Joseph J. Ogren, 30, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Thomas O'Hagan, 43, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Samuel Oitice, 45, Peekskill, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Patrick O'Keefe, 44, Oakdale, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. William O'Keefe, 49, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Eric T. Olsen, 41, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Jeffrey James Olsen, 31, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Steven John Olson, 38, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Kevin O'Rourke, 44, Hewlett, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael Otten, 42, East Islip, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Jeffrey Matthew Palazzo, 33, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Frank A. Palombo, 46, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Paul Pansini, 34, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

James N. Pappageorge, 29, Yonkers, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Robert Parro, 35, Levittown, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Durrell Pearsall, 34, Hempstead, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Glenn C. Perry, 41, Monroe, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Philip S. Petti, 43, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Kevin Pfeifer, 42, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Kenneth John Phelan, 41, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Christopher Pickford, 32, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Shawn Edward Powell, 32, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Vincent Princiotta, 39, Orangeburg, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Kevin Prior, 28, Bellmore, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lincoln Quappe, 38, Sayville, N.Y.
Firefighter , New York Fire Department

Lt. Michael Quilty, 42, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Leonard Ragaglia, 36, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael Ragusa, 29, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Edward Rall, 44, Holbrook, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Adam David Rand, 30, Bellmore, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Donald J. Regan, 47, Wallkill, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Robert M. Regan, 48, Floral Park, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Christian Michael Otto Regenhard, 28, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Kevin O. Reilly, 28, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Vernon Allan Richard, 53, Nanuet, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

James C. Riches, 29, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Joseph Rivelli, 43, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael Edward Roberts, 31, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, Engine 214, New York Fire Department

Michael Roberts, 30, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, Ladder 35, New York Fire Department

Anthony Rodriguez, 36, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Matthew Rogan, 37, West Islip, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Keith Roma, 27, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Patrol

Nicholas P. Rossomando, 35, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Paul G. Ruback, 50, Newburgh, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Stephen P. Russell, 40, Rockaway Beach, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Michael Thomas Russo, 44, Nesconset, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas E. Sabella, 44, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Christopher Santora, 23, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

John Santore, 49, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Gregory Thomas Saucedo, 31, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Dennis Scauso, 46, Dix Hills, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

John A. Schardt, 34, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas G. Schoales, 27, Stony Point, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Gerard P. Schrang, 45, Holbrook, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Gregory Sikorsky, 34, Spring Valley, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Stephen Gerard Siller, 34, West Brighton, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Stanley S. Smagala, 36, Holbrook, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Kevin Smith, 47, Mastic, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Leon Smith, 48, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Robert W. Spear, 30, Valley Cottage, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Joseph P. Spor, 35, Yorktown Heights, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. Timothy Stackpole, 42, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Gregory M. Stajk, 46, Long Beach, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Jeffrey Stark, 30, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Benjamin Suarez, 36, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Daniel Suhr, 37, Nesconset, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Christopher P. Sullivan, 38, Massapequa, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Brian Edward Sweeney, 29, Merrick, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Sean Patrick Tallon, 26, Yonkers, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Allan Tarasiewicz, 45, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Paul A. Tegtmeier, 41, Hyde Park, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

John Patrick Tierney, 27, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

John J. Tipping, 33, Port Jefferson, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Hector Luis Tirado, 30, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Manuel Del Valle, 32, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Peter Anthony Vega, 36, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lawrence Veling, 44, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

John T. Vigiano, 36, West Islip, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Sergio Villanueva, 33, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lawrence Virgilio, 38
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Robert F. Wallace, 43, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Jeffrey Patrick Walz, 37, Tuckahoe, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Michael Warchola, 51, Middle Village, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. Patrick J. Waters, 44, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Kenneth Watson, 39, Smithtown, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael Weinberg, 34, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

David M. Weiss, 41, Maybrook, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Timothy Matthew Welty, 34, Yonkers, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Eugene Whelan, 31, Rockaway Beach, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Edward James White, 30, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Mark Whitford, 31, Salisbury Mills, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Glenn Wilkinson, 46, Bayport, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. David Terence Wooley, 54, Nanuet, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Raymond York, 45, Valley Stream, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER AND BE THANKFUL FOR ALL THESE HEROES DID!

CUTEST GRANBABIES!!

2010-08-19T08:04:00.000-07:00

OUR GRANBABIES ARE THE CUTEST!

We have the cutest granbabies! Seriously! They really are. They smile a lot and laugh a lot and generally just warm your heart when you hold them close. On a scale of 1 to 10 they are each, by far, well above the 10 mark! They are super huggable and squeezable and have oh so soft skin. We love holding them, although on a hot summer's day they don't much want to be held too close since they get too hot. We love spending any amount of time with them that we can.

Yesterday, Nicole and her two kids, Gigi and Brody, and I drove up to the OC to visit Micah, oh and his parents, too, for the day. It turned out to be quite a hot day...but our time together was so nice. We walked to a local Mexican cafe for lunch, hung out at Micah's pad near the fan, and enjoyed some frozen yogurt before heading back to San Diego. (I have to admit the yogurt was yummy despite my protests (I'm an "ice cream SNOB"usually!)!

Because it was hot the kiddos lazed around a bit:

Brody, 4 months, trying to roll over while eating his hand!

Gigi, 3 yrs, resting under a blanket (oops! don't tell dadddy she's using Unc A's PADRES blanket, which she choose herself!) on a HOT summer's day!!
(she got warm, go figure, pretty soon after getting the blanket situated!)

Micah, 3 months, sleeps while we all enjoy some frozen yogurt.

Oh, how we love these grandbabies sooooo much! Don't you agree they are the cutest granbabies!? Well, at least we think so and that's all that counts in our book!

Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Parks

2010-08-02T07:54:00.000-07:00

THE GRANDEUR OF YELLOWSTONE

We spent a fantastic week with friends, Marc and Nancee and Rod and Donna, touring through Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, and venturing a bit into Montana, Idaho and the Grand Tetons National park! What an unbelievable trip!

Rod was our tour guide, promising wonderful sights and he delivered!! The views were awesome and spectacular, breathtaking and beautiful! Words cannot truly describe the wonder of it all.

Rod also promised we would see an abundance of wildlife, which we did, including deer, elf, osprey, moose, bison and grizzly bears!!

Nick and I flew from Orange Co to Denver on a Sunday. As we were making our approach into Denver the pilot quickly took off into the sky just shy of the runway. It seems at the moment before we were to land a "microburst" of air-wind was crossing the runway and we were unable to land. After a bit of circling, we were told we would have to be diverted to Colorado Springs, as the Denver airport had been shut down for an hour and we would need to refuel. About 40 minutes later we took off for Denver again and caught our connection to Cody. Talk about an exciting start to our vacation!

We arrived in Cody, only 45 minutes late! Rod and Marc picked us up at the small regional airport and as we drove to Rod's dad's house, literally on the other side of the airport property, we saw our first deer on the side of the road, about 5 feet from the truck!!

The next morning we started out on our adventure from Cody, Wyoming, where we were surprised to see golden brown flat ranch land, with almost no trees of northeastern Wyoming. Soon the landscape changed to rolling hills with trees and every shade of green mixed with colorful flowers, as we drove to our first destination, Cooke City, MT. Along the way we took a side trip and rode Rod's ATV's about 30 miles through the forest.When we arrived in Cooke City we were greeted by a grizzly bear crossing the highway. This bear proceeded to gorge himself on the high grass and many flowers about 100 ft from our car!! It happened we saw him in the trees close to the Skyline Guest Ranch lodge, bed and breakfast where we were staying, just a few miles outside of Yellowstone. The second morning we were in Cooke City we were awakened to some strange grunting sounds. When we looked out our windows we saw about a hundred buffaloes walking around our lodge. They had ventured out of Yellowstone, through the town of Cooke City, right down the highway in the middle of the street, stopping traffic as they passed the cars!!! What strange and homely creatures they are.

Nick took a private fly fishing trip one day. What he thought would be a short horseback ride in and out turned out to be 5 hours of riding a horse (2 1/2 hrs on horseback each way) into some remote back area of Yellowstone.He really loved the time to fly fish, caught a few small ones, but was quite sore the next day!!

From Cooke City, MT we drove through Yellowstone National Park. We saw hundreds more of bison, as well as deer, elk and moose. The flowers were so gorgeous and abundant. Everywhere we looked we saw greenery and mountains, clear blue sky with soft white clouds, and the blue of water! Lots and lots of water, Yellowstone River and Yellowstone Lake go for miles!! (Unfortunately we also saw many a brown pine tree being killed by the whitebark pine beetle--a huge problem in Yellowstone-over 3 million pine trees are infected and/or already dead. We also saw the remnants of the '88 forest fire, as well as a few more recent fires.)

The vastness of Yellowstone is amazing...so much to see. We visited the Tower Falls,

Lower Yellowstone Falls,

and Lower Yellowstone Falls--incredible views!!

We hit a thurderstorm and some rain as we ventured through the parks to Jackson, Wyoming, and could only see a peak of one of the Grand Tetons sticking out above the clouds. We headed east through Jackson to the Teton Valley where we rented a 4 bdrm cabin in Driggs, Idaho.

We rode ATV's again for about 50 miles in the Bridger National Forest, riding alongside the Greys River, about an hour and a half away from Driggs. We rode past many beautiful camp spots right next to the river and open fire rings were allowed-something we haven't seen in the national forests of California in more than 20 years! We spent a day walking around the town of Jackson, Wyoming, and visited Jackson Hole Ski Resort, where the slopes look pretty steep! More beautiful sights everywhere we went!

Saturday, our last day, we returned to Cody via another road through the Grand Tetons National Park and then through Yellowstone National Park. This day we were able to see the massiveness and beauty of the Tetons--glorious!

We couldn't go to Yellowstone and not stop to see "Old Faithful!" True to it's name Old Faithful shot hight into the sky about 30 minutes after we arrived. Such a fantastic sight to see and watch!!We saw more wildlife-- a mama moose and her baby moose right along side the road and another bear, who was also loving all the flowers and grass around him. He was up on a hillside so it was hard to tell if he was a grizzly or black bear. I'm inclined to think it was another grizzly!

We loved Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons!! Thanks to Rod and Donna (pictured above on my right; on my left Nancee and Marc)
for being such great "tour guides" and for planning this great vacation! We will go back someday in the near future!!!

All our photos can be seen:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/72308330@N00/sets/72157624463799659/

4th of July

2010-08-02T07:40:00.000-07:00

Nick as Grand Marshall

Nick, above with Gigi, was the Grand Marshall for the Rancho Santa Fe Annual 4th of July Parade, and the whole family got to ride in the parade!

We got to ride in a 2004 Ferrari! (What a thrill, although we only went about 4 mph!! ) Nick was honored for his 31+years of service to the community as a member of the RSF Fire Protection District and the current Fire Chief.

Here's the whole family in front of the RSFFD Antique Fire Engine. What an exciting event for us-we are all so proud of him!

More pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/72308330@N00/sets/72157624457886231/

And MICAH MAKES THREE!!!

2010-05-20T19:59:00.000-07:00

MEET MICAH

God has blessed us with another grandbaby!
We now have three beautiful grandchildren: Our daughter, Nicole and David's two,
Gigi, 3 yrs and Brody, 6 weeks,
and our newest grandson, Micah Alexander Pavone,

born to our son, Alex and his , Angelina, on May 12th,
at 8:19 pm,
weighing 7 lbs 5 oz
(one ounce more than his father weighed at birth!)
and 20 inches long.
(Yaya holding Micah!)
Micah is a sweetie with a full head of black hair-the most hair
I've seen on a newborn.

(Micah held by Papa)
Despite the fact he isn't even a month old yet he has smiled at us at least a dozen times.
You're probably saying, "He's not really smiling, he's got gas,"
but check out this picture-proof positive for sure!!

(3 Generations of Pavone men!!)

It's hard to put into words how happy we are about our ever-growing family!
We really love being grandparents, known to our grandbabies as Yaya and Papa
(from the Greek side of the family--Nick's mom)! Nick took to being called Papa very easily.
For me, it took some getting used to, being called Yaya. Now, whenever Gigi says it my heart melts--and I can't wait for the boys to call me Yaya, too!!

More pictures of baby Micah:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/72308330@N00/sets/72157623958686405/

Life Happens!

2010-05-04T18:10:00.000-07:00

Meet Brody!

During April I did finish a lot of projects, however, I didn't finish what I had anticipated to finish, especially at the Brown Bag Quilt Retreat I attended early in the month! Everyone knows how "life happens" and plans get changed.

Well, we had that kind of a month in a big way!

My daughter, Nicole and her husband, David decided to adopt quite a while ago. They completed all the necessary paperwork back in January, which took about a year, and then they waited patiently! The process, they were told, takes 18 months to 2 years from the beginning of the paperwork process until a couple is chosen by birth parents to receive a baby. After only 3 months, they were chosen by birth parents and met them, about two weeks before they got THE CALL from their social worker that the baby had been born, 10 days early!

They took their new son home 4 days later!

Meet the newest addition to our family, our new grandson: Brody Noah Nicholas Bennett

He was born on April 6^th, 2010, at 6:10 pm, weighing 6 lbs. 4 oz. and 19” long.

What a miracle blessing he truly is!!! He is a joy and loves to be held!

(Luckily he has two sets of grandparents who love holding him!!!)

He’s 4 weeks old today. He’s a good eater and has already gained a pound or more and is filling out! He is a really good baby and not very fussy. He usually can be easily consoled, except for last night!!! He’s probably going through a growth spurt!

His big sister Gigi is quite proud of her new baby “Bro Bro” as she calls him. When Brody was only a week old she came running into our house looking for me. I asked her where her baby brother Brody was and she replied, very matter of factly,

“He’s still with us!” (Just too cute!!)

So I did manage to finish a lot of baby items for baby Brody and for his soon-to-be-cousin, Micah, due to arrive in 16 days!! I made many flannel receiving blankets and flannel "ni-nites" or burp cloths, several Pack 'n Play crib sheets, and two cute tote bags from the Bunny Hill pattern "Jelly Bags", like this one modeled by my daughter-in-law, Angelina (soon-to-be-mommy of Micah!). More pictures of Brody-click here!

Showering Baby Micah

2010-04-24T11:40:00.000-07:00

Baby Shower for Angelina

Last weekend Nicole and I hosted a Baby Shower for Angelina. Family and friends from near and far (San Jose, Paradise (north of Chico), Sacramento, Redding, Upland, Orange, and Santa Ana) came to shower Angelina and her baby boy, Micah, due May 20, with lots of clothes and baby essentials!

Nicole made some very cute decorations with dots (a favorite of Angelina), including this mobile that Angelina can hang in Micah's room.Cupcakes (another favorite and must for Angelina) were made from scratch by Nicole and decorated with brown, green and blue M & M's. A baby bottle was filled with brown, green and blue M & M's for a fun guessing game.

Here's Angelina with the baby quilt I made for Micah. Angelina found the pattern on a blog and picked the colors. No standard blue and boy theme for Micah. The colors for baby Micah's room are brown, greens and a bit of blue, with lots of dots and some animals thrown in. I also made a quilted throw out of the same fabrics, some burp cloths, receiving blanket and a pack n' play crib sheet.

Below, Angelina models the tote (Bunny Hill Pattern, Jelly Bags), which can also be used as a diaper bag, made of the leftover fabrics from the quilt!!

If you look closely you can see the baby bump under Angelina's green shirt. With just a bit more than four weeks to go, it's looking like this baby will have everything he needs and more!

Nick and I have plans to take our RV up to Orange county, to Newport Dunes RV Resort the weekend before Micah is due and the weekend after his due date--in hopes he will be born on one of those weekends while we are there. To say we are anxious is a bit of an understatement. We all love baby Micah so much and can't wait to meet him!

You can see more shower photos on my flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/72308330@N00/sets/72157623779439289/

and starting here on Nicole's flickr page.

CG&GQC and OPAM Completions & APRIL TO DOS

2010-04-05T19:42:00.000-07:00

MARCH PROJECT FINISHES

March was another productive month!

One Dozen Pillowcases donated to the Con Kerr Cancer Pillowcase Project.
A summer blanket/quilt--lightweight, pieced top, flannel back and no batting for a new baby girl born to one of my husband's firefighters and his wife.
A machine Appliqued Pillow, for a very good friend, made from a McKenna Ryan pattern.
A vinyl covered fabric bib (an Amy Butler Fabric) for my granddaughter, Gigi

I also finished two blocks: one for a block exchange, Live Piecefully and one for a quilt for a woman I work with at the quilt shop. During March I have been knitting a cardigan sweater for Gigi-I have all the pieces done (2 fronts, back and sleeves); now I just have to sew them all together.

PROJECTS TO DO DURING APRIL

1. This adorable spring dress for my granddaughter, Gigi2. I hope to finish this quilt, Twisted Star, by Sue Bouchard, a Quilt in a Day pattern, which I started last year (mine is in red, white and blue patriotic fabrics:
3. A table runner or two, including his one by McKenna Ryan
I may end up doing more if I am really productive at my next Brown Bag Quilt Retreat which is this coming weekend (April 9th-11th) !! YEAH FOR QUILT RETREATS!

Great Weekend in Arizona

2010-03-22T20:25:00.000-07:00

SPRING TRAINING WEEKEND

We headed to Arizona last Thursday in our RV with Nicole, David and Gigi. Nick was able to drive, despite having had his 2nd rotator cuff surgery just a month ago! We met David's parents, Dan and Jeri there about 8:30 pm on Thursday night, at a very nice resort, Pueblo El Mirage RV and Golf Resort in El Mirage, Arizona. This resort is a lot nicer than the place we stayed at last year, with a fantastic clubhouse and recreation buildings with loads of activities, kid friendly, extended pool hours for kids (a big hit with Gigi), people friendly, a championship golf course (which Dan, Jeri and David played on Friday morning), and beautiful landscaping--lots of flowers, not just the usual cacti for a resort in the desert. It's about 20 minutes from both baseball parks we went to while we were there. We enjoyed hanging out during the days, riding bikes, going to the pool, etc.

Weather was nice, sunny,warm and breezy, in the low to mid 70's on Friday and Saturday, but quite a bit colder at night than we had expected, in the low 50's, when we were at the baseball games, where we sat on the grass in left fields both nights.

Friday night's game was at Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona, spring training home of the San Diego Padres. Padres beat LA 9-4. Met up with some old friends from San Diego at the game! Fun.Saturday night's game was at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona, spring training home of the LA Dodgers. Padres beat LA again, 4-1. (woohoo!!)

Sunday morning we packed up the motorhome and headed back to Camelback Ranch for a day game between the Dodgers and the Cleveland Indians. We left the game early, for the long drive home, but the Dodgers were losing 11-1 in the 7th inning.

To see all our pictures go to our flickr page:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/72308330@N00/sets/72157623675318046/

Memory Verses

2010-03-11T23:01:00.000-08:00

"His Word in My Heart"

Last year Nicole and I joined Beth Moore's, “1st and 15th Siesta Scripture Memory Team "
along with thousands of women across the United States. At first it seemed like memorizing 2 verses a month wouldn't be that difficult. Well, I have to admit it was. I did choose my 24 verses for the year, and memorized a few, but I didn't actually, fully memorize all of them as I would have liked!

This year I'm going to try to memorize one verse a month, with Nicole and her "His Word in My Heart" (you can click on her button on my side bar for more information). For Christmas Nicole made me my own monthly memory verse kit, and Nicole describes it on her blog best when she says, "I’m excited to keep my verses safe in a little zipper pouch because I feel like when I zip them up in there it symbolizes them being “stored up” in my heart like one version of Psalm 119:11 says."

I do want to have more of God's word "stored up in my heart!"

SO here are my verses for the first three months of 2010:

My January verse: Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)

My February verse: God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. 1 Corinthians 1:9 (NIV)

My March verse: Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Psalm 90:14 (NIV)

My Version of the "Madness"

2010-03-03T09:50:00.000-08:00

SPRING "MADNESS"

March and April look to be busy months, a kind of "madness" (no NOT basketball !) with all that will be happening. At the quilt shop I work at we've got the upcoming San Diego Cruisin' Quilters Shop Hop starting this Saturday, and I'm working a lot of extra hours and long days!

Then there are the planned getaways or happenings: a trip planned to Peoria, Arizona for Padres' Spring Training, for a long weekend, followed by a weekend Women's Retreat with my church. The next weekend we will celebrate Easter, followed by another weekend(YES! another) Brown Bag Quilt Retreat in Buellton. The third weekend in April we will have wonderful great friends and house guests to shower Angelina and Alex's baby Micah. To cap off the month of April we will be hosting a retirement party for two retired firefighters from Nick's fire department and then the last day of April is the Annual Appreciation Dinner put on by Rotary of Rancho Santa Fe for Fire and Security personnel!! I'm exhausted already.

Along with all those activities I do hope to complete a few projects in March:

(1) quilt and bind the quilt I am making for my niece Amalia and her new husband, Rick;(2) a machine appliqued, McKenna Ryan pattern for a "special" pillow for a very special friend

(3) a baby quilt for a new firefighter's daughterand (4) several cheerful, colorful pillowcases (similar to this one) for children who are sick with cancer or other serious illnesses for the ConKerr Cancer pillowcase project,
known as A Case for Smiles.Many quilt shops in southern California and all across the nation are participating in ConKerr Cancer by hosting" sew-ins" for making the pillowcases, collecting the cheerful pillowcases for the children who are sick and then donating them to local hospitals.

The pillowcases are really easy to make and basically take one yard of fabric (3/4 yd for the pillowcase body and 1/4 yd or so for the top border trim. If you have a heart for helping others by way of using your talents and love of sewing, go to the ConKerr Cancer website for information about the project in your area! If you'd like a free pattern just email me and I can send one to you.

Winter Olympics Come to an End!

2010-03-02T08:33:00.000-08:00

My Love of the Winter Olympics

One of my most favorite things is watching The Olympics- especially the Winter Olympics, and Alpine Events, and Skating, of course. I Love the Olympics! I even enjoy watching the Nordic events, also known as cross country skiing. I also enjoy watching the Summer Olympics, especially the gymnastics events, but my heart has always had a fonder spot for the Winter games.

I grew up in Southern California in a suburb of LA in the San Fernando Valley. I started snow skiing when I was about 5 years old and skied my whole life (although I haven't skied in about 10 years now). We used to go to Mammoth Mountain many times every winter. When I was about 12 my parents and good family friends bought a lot in Mammoth and we built a cabin. The builder always said ours was the most insulated cabin up there because the women (2 moms and4 girls ages 9-14)) stuffed extra insulation in every nook and cranny we could!! So many fond memories from our cabin and skiing adventures in Mammoth. I remember missing school because we had gotten "snowed in!" Very exciting for a SoCal girl!! I remember spending many "Easter Vacations" skiing in jeans and t-shirt on a sunny day at Mammoth!

My childhood dream was to move up to Mammoth, join the ski team and ski in the Olympics! (Not that I was ever that caliber of a skier-nor was I that aggressive of a skier--but it was a dream of mine.) I loved the Olympics! So every four years when the Winter Olympics occur I can live out my dream watching the Alpine skiing events. Seeing Americans doing so well this year has been the best. I'm as thrilled for them as if I were one of their moms!!

I watched a tribute to the 1980 Gold Medal Ice Hockey Team, and even now, 30 years later I got goose bumps and tears welled in my eyes to watch them win again. I vividly remember being in my living room, watching this historic sports moment, and cheering as loudly as if I had been there, "USA! USA!" when they won. These Winter Olympics it looked as though Team USA might do it again; they played so well throughout the tournament. But, alas, it was not to be. Instead, Canada won in OT and the national anthem of "Oh Canada" echoed loadly in the arena. Team USA should be proud~ They won the Silver Medal, afterall, and although the Silver isn't as revered as the Gold, they also won the hearts of all of America! Did I mention I love the Olympics?! and as ABC Sports used to say, "the Thrill of Victory and the Agony of the defeat: I love it all!

Another dream has been to attend the Winter Olympics and Nick shares this dream. The excitement of being there amidst all the energy, Olympic spirit and thrilling moments would be such a great experience! So maybe we will attend the next Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, or another future games once he retires!!

With the end of the 2010 Winter Olympics came, too, the end of February. I finished several projects, listed on my side bar.

Many of the projects (for the CGGQClub and OPAM) I finished are gifts so I can't show pictures of all of them at this time. I did finish this cute "Crazy Eight Strip Teaser Table Topper", a large baby quilt for our grandson due in May, a few other projects(shh-they're a surprise also for Micah),
a few baby burp cloths, aka "Ni-nites",and the top for my niece's quilt (also a surprise).

MY FAVORITE THINGS

2010-02-23T11:09:00.000-08:00

Joan has challenged all members of CG & GQC to blog about our "favourite things!" (She's a Canadian hence the spelling of "favourite"!!)

These are a few of my favorite things......

1. My sewing machine: a Pfaff Creative 7570 (To quote Joan because I couldn't have said it better myself "sewing (and quilting) is my most favorite hobby"), and a few of my sewing/quilting accessories!

2. My doggies:That's Sydney (4) resting her head on Lacy (12)

3. DARK Chocolate: Any kind of DARK chocolate will do, but I especially love Dark Chocolate with Raspberry Filling:

4. My African Violets: I get my love of African Violets from my grandma, a very wise, godly woman with a heart of gold.

5. My collections: I have always been a collector-I love collecting: Precious Moments, cats (here are just a few of my cats that I have pretty much in every room!) pictures, scrapbooks, fire memorabilia(previously written about here), you name it! My friend Susie says I have too many collectibles. Recently I have begun to believe she may be right! So now I am only collecting "fabrics!"

6. Our RV: love to go "camping-RVing" and traveling in the RV, or by air, or by sea!pictured with my hubby, Nick, our doggies and my Highlander.

"....Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things!"

ANOTHER GREAT QUILT RETREAT

2010-02-18T09:00:00.000-08:00

FEBRUARY BROWN BAG RETREAT

We had so much fun at our Brown Bag Quilting Retreat at
The Creation Station Fabric and Quilt Shop located in Buellton, California.

This cute quilt shop is owned by Patrick, here cutting fabric inside the store,and his wife, Dawn, here in the classroom/retreat room. As you can see the walls of the retreat room are all painted with wild flowers growing everywhere. The floors are also painted with grass, flowers, rocks and more. Even the bathrooms are decorated so creativelySo inspirations abound...We drove up to Buellton on Thursday and met our friends the Nances at the
Flying Flags RV Resort in Buellton, where we stayed for the weekend in our RVs. Lynn and I head over to the Retreat Center at The Creation Station by 7 am-wait in line
(this year in the POURING RAIN) and then sew and quilt from 8 am on Friday
till whenever that night (we were there till 10:30 pm). The guys hung out at the RV Resort, playing cards, etc. (They had plans to go fishing-but couldn't since it rained all day
Friday and Saturday). We returned by 9 the next morning and quilted till 12:45 am.
Returned on Sunday morning by 8:30 am and quilted till the end of the retreat at 3 pm.

Retreats are such a great way to get a lot accomplished, starting and finishing quilt tops, and other projects, finishing UFO's and WISP's.
I finished the quilt top for my soon to be grandson (due in May) and made
the 20 blocks for my niece's queen size quilt. It is so much fun sewing with other women who love sewing and quilting as much as I do. Retreats are inspiring and educational--as we share ideas and projects. Meeting up with friends I don't get to see often enough is the best!

I'm in the middle between my quilting buddiesLynn on the left and Nancy on the right.
(That is Lynn's gorgeous quilt made of hand dyed Batiks in the background!)
Nancy is also the hostess with the mostest for all the Brown Bag Retreats. Yes, that's right, she gets the privilege to attend all 11 Brown Bag Retreats held each year at The Creation Station---
a lucky lady for sure!A few more of our quilting friends, l to r: Una (that's a long "u" na, for those of us who often say her name wrong!), Barbara, and Carolyn.
As you can see they are all busy working on their quilts so time for looking at the camera!

At the Brown Bag Retreats, named for the "brown bag" of goodies each quilter receives on our individual 6 ft sewing table (each quilter has a 6 ft table all to herself!). We have a pot luck dinner on Friday nights. Saturday we are treated to a homemade soup and salad bar, soups made by Patrick, and homemade breads made by Nancy. YUMMY!! (My favorite soup is his Baked Potato Soup-it is the best!!

As I mentioned, The Creation Station hosts 11 Brown Bag Retreats. I'm so excited because I am attending 4 this year, returning in April, July and September! Can't wait for the next one!

February To Do Projects

2010-02-03T19:37:00.000-08:00

Off to a Quilting Retreat

We're heading to Buellton, Central Coast, California in our RV. We'll be camping for the next few days with our great friends, Lynn and Rick. While the guys do what guys do, Lynn and I will join our friend, Nancy and others and will be quilting till the late hours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Creation Station Quilt Shop's Brown Bag Retreat!

So, here's what I plan to work on while at the retreat:

1. A baby quilt for my grandson, Micah, due mid-May out of these cute fabrics:

2. And, for my niece, Amalia and her new husband Rick, a queen size quilt similar to this "Flyboy" quilt I made for my friend, Bill;
this one will be made with several shades of golden tan,
dark reds/burgandys and black.

(If time permits and I finish both tops, maybe I'll make a couple of table toppers for my bedroom nightstands.
But....I doubt it!)

We are really looking forward to meeting up with our friends Thursday night. We haven't seen them in quite a while (they live in Redding about 12 hour drive from us) ! Then bright and early Friday morning Lynn and I will head over to the retreat! Can't wait to get quilting!!

January Projects, Part 2

2010-01-31T08:31:00.000-08:00

Gigi's Hawaiian Quilt is finished.
Just in time to be included in my January finishes for Charming Girls Quilt Club and OPAM !This quilt is for Gigi's room at Yaya and Papa's house. Whenever she comes to spend the night she sleeps in the room that was hers for 10 months!! It matches the Hawaiian theme in this room: Hawaiian Quilts and framed pictures I took when I was in Hawaii!! For Gigi's quilt I used many of the same fabrics as in the Hawaiian Quilt that is on the futon (in the same room), and added a few different fabrics to change it a bit. Both quilts have fabrics with Hawaiian flowers , surfboards and woodies!I designed both quilts, grabbing ideas from a few patterns I had seen for each. For Gigi's quilt I chose a soft yellow beach scene fabric, with shells and beach toys, for the accent and first border that really makes it look more childlike!

I tried to wrap Gigi's new quilt around her while she was sitting on the futon, but as you can see the challenge to get Gigi to pose and smile is not an easy task-this was the best I could get!

To make Gigi's quilt a bit warmer I backed it with flannel, which makes it so soft and cuddly. I added a label and included a Bible verse, the first Bible verse Gigi quoted to me just this week:
"Do not be afraid; your prayer has been heard." Luke 1:13. How fitting that she will be covered in the warmth of her new quilt, but she is also be covered in God's love.

TAGGED for REDS!

2010-01-29T09:10:00.000-08:00

SHADES OF RED AROUND OUR HOUSE

Nicole tagged me. This time the instructions were to showcase 7 photos showing red around the home. As I took my pictures I noticed I actually have a lot of red accents around our house. Maybe, that's because Nick is a firefighter, and so we have collected a lot of
"fire memorabilia" over his 34 year career!
Hence, my 1st photo shows some of the red fire pieces we have!

2 - our red fireplace wall (color name: Red Red Wine)

3 - the red cat door stop my mom make (she used to make all kinds of fabric decorations
and sell them at craft fairs-she's a very creative lady!)

4 - red on one of my sewing baskets (Mary Englebreit designs)

5 - a red Yankee Candles-love the smells of Yankee candles and have several other colors
(Nick doesn't mind when I burn these candles since the flame is within the jar--
he has always HATED regular candles, as they can so easily cause a fire!)

6 - a red Cat pitcher (Catzilla Design by Candace Reiter)
I actually have a lot of these cat pieces around the house!

7 - a gorgeous dark red Antique Vase trimmed in real gold which
belonged to my grandmother and was handed down to my mom and then me.

So there you have it! In case you didn't know or hadn't figured out, I am a collector!!! It seems over the years I have added to many collections - fire decorations, cats, Precious Moments figurines, fabrics!!! Love my collections!!

My turn to tag 7- but if anyone else would like to play, please come back and leave a comment with your link to your red showcase!
How about Annelies ; Kristina ; Kelly ; Peg ; Mary ; Kris ; Emily
Any takers?