MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE PAVONES

Highlights of 2016

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Look Back on the year 2015!

Hoping everyone had a very Merry and Joyful Christmas, 

filled with much love. We enjoyed Christmas as we spent it with family and  

celebrated the birth of our Savior.

Another great year has flown by, faster than the last. 

It was filled with so many blessings for which we are ever thankful. 

It's hard to believe that Christmas has come and gone, 

and we will celebrate the beginning of another year! 

 Nick celebrated #60! Most Mondays he can be found riding his bike (20 miles) around Mission Bay. He tries to play golf at least once a week. He is "giving back" by doing interview preparations with firefighters who want to promote and teaching in the "fire community."

Karen still loves sewing, having made clothes for all 5 of our grandkids, and quilting!  

She also attended a couple of quilt retreats with her quilting buddies, Nancy and Lynn!

We love our times spent with family and the grandkids who are getting big, too fast. 

Gigi is 8, in 3rd grade, played softball and loved being a part of a team! 

Brody & Micah both 5, started kindergarten. They both love learning.

Brody played t-ball for the first time. 

Micah is in public school, doing skateboard tricks and ever active! 

Hallee, now 4, is basically doing kindergarten with Brody, 

goes to a home preschool 1 day a week, and started dance lessons. 

(Nicole continues to homeschool her kids.) 

Seth, now 2, is fearless, still running, talking up a storm, and knows his colors!

2015 included RVing trips to: Spring Training for Baseball in AZ; Julian; 

back to the state of Montana, for a month of camping @Yellowstone & Glacier Parks with good friends, as well as visiting friends who live in Montana; 

Santee Lakes & Pismo Beach; Del Mar Beach on Camp Pendleton, right on the sand! 

Thanksgiving week we camped at San Mateo campground-the inland campground that is part of San Onofre St Beach; it was one of the coldest Thanksgivings we've had, but we enjoyed our time together with family and friends. 

Our family vacation together took us to Laughlin/Lake Mojave, Nevada, for Labor Day weekend. All the grandkids loved riding in the boat (or helping Papa driving the boat!), playing on the big tube in the perfect, private cove we found. 

The big kids did some water sports (wake skating and wakeboarding), too! 

To top it off, Nick won big @ Keno! 

Best trip of 2015, was, by far, our 10 day Tahitian Islands Cruise. We sailed with my sister, Kathy and her fiance, Stan, and we had a fabulous time. Tahiti has the most beautiful teal ocean waters!

My mom, Great Grandma Hope is ever happy these days, albeit forgetful. She has Alzheimers but continues to have a healthy appetite and smiles a lot! She turned 88 on Christmas Day!

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year filled with family, friends, adventures and blessings!

Exploring the USA

We took our first USA RV Trip with our good friends, Sue and Bill, (and our dog, Sydney, of course!). Our wonderful journey started on August 11th when we left Lake Almanor in Nor Cal.We returned home on Oct 8th, 2014.

(we drove to the top of Pike's Peak in Colorado)

We spent 8 1/2 weeks on the roads of northern America in our 40' RV, towing our jeep, on our trip of a lifetime (the first of several such trips).

Nick and I have camped our entire marriage. We started camping in a tent, before we bought a camper. After the camper, we owned 2-travel trailers (18" and 24"), 2-Class C motorhomes (22' and 28'), 1-Class A 34' motorhome, and 2-diesel pusher 40' motorhomes. We have always talked about seeing and traveling through all the states of the USA.

Last year we bought our USA map (those of you who camp have seen the USA maps on the sides of RV's). On it, we put the states' stickers for the states we traveled to in 2013 in our RV: California, of course, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.  Now our USA map has 19 states' stickers, only 29 more states to go, 30 if we take our RV to Alaska!

Here's a look at our trip by the numbers:

We traveled 17 states:  (18 states if you count driving 20 miles through Arizona!).

We visited and or/traveled to:

*** 38+ American cities/towns

*** 6 cities visited friends

*** 8 National Parks:

    Glacier National Park
    Yellowstone National Park
    Theodore Roosevelt National Park
    Badlands National Park
    Rocky Mountain National Park
    Arches National Park
    Bryce National Park
    Zion National Park

*** 26+  Points of Interest and National Historic Sites, including:
    National Bison Range, MT
    John D. Rockefeller Memorial Pkwy (the road between Yellowstone and Grand Tetons)
    Little Missouri National Grasslands, ND
    Mt Rushmore National Memorial, SD
    Custer State Park in the Black Hills, SD
    Crazy Horse Memorial, SD
    Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, SD
    "Wall Drug," SD
    Jefferson Expansion, St Louis Arch Gateway to the West, MO
    Anheuser Busch Brewery and Budweiser Tour, MO
    Branson. MPO
    Air Force Strategic Air Command and Museum, NE
    Holy Family Shrine Chapel, NE
    The Mall of America, MN
    Minnehaha Falls, MN
    Harley-Davidson Museum, WI
    Wisconsin Dells, WI
    Vesterheim - Norwegian-American Museum, IO (both Sue and I are Norwegian!)
    Covered Bridges of Madison County, IO
    United States Air Force Academy and AF Cadet Chapel, CO
    Pike's Peak, (14, 115') CO
    Garden of the Gods, CO - National Natural Landmark
    Royal Gorge Suspension Bridge, CO
    Grand Mesa outside of Grand Junction, CO
    Lake Mead and Hoover Dam, NV

*** 4 baseball parks: Minnesota Twins, Target Field; Milwaukee Brewers, Miller Park;
               St Louis Cardinals, Busch Stadium; and Kansas City Royals, Kaufman Stadium

*** 33 RV parks, including 3 state park campgrounds and 2 city RV parks

*** 28 days/nights of rainstorms with thunder and lightning, like we've never seen in southern California! Everywhere, along our trip, locals told us it was the "wettest" summer in years, which we can attest!

***12 audiobooks listened to along the way

*** 2,000+ pictures taken

*** and 8,600 miles put on our RV and 1,500 miles on our jeep.

America is so much larger than we imagined, with the most amazing beauty, vastness and diversity of the terrain. We saw green rolling hills, lush foliage and forests;

many rivers, including the Missouri River, the Mississippi River, the Arkansas River and the Colorado River; waterfalls: many lakes and the very Big Sky of Montana; the wildflowers; glacier, hot mineral springs, and geysers;the brilliant blue skies over America with the clouds almost close enough to touch; the beautiful sunsets;

the sunflower fields, as well as the endless fields of sorghum and soybeans, and corn fields; Hoodoos (spires); the plains; the many mountains, including the mighty Rocky Mountains; and many different wild animals, including: American Bison, Elk, Prone Horn Antelope, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Prairie Dogs, bear, chipmunks, ground squirrels, and Mountain Goat.

We drove on two lane highways, interstates, back roads, and dirt roads; throughout National Parks; through small towns and large cities; in the middle of what seemed like nowhere, alone on an interstate and stuck in traffic (YES! there is traffic outside of California, although shocking, I know!); used 4 GPS's and a good old-fashioned Atlas, at one time, to guide us along our way, sometimes finding a "different" way to get to our destination. We drove on sunny clear days and through some torrential thunderstorms; had warm weather and some really cold weather in the fall (woke up to 27 degrees in Bryce Canyon National Park); through the plains, over the continental divide several times, and over the Rocky Mountains via the Independence Pass, 12,096 ft.

To see more of our trip check out  my flickr page !

Spring Training 2014

We RVed the month of March in Arizona for Spring Training. It's become an annual trip for us, staying once again at Pueblo El Mirage Golf and RV Resort.

We met up with friends and family, played some golf, rode bikes, took walks,visited most of the spring training baseball fields, and enjoyed a lot of baseball games! 

Here's some highlights.

We also visited the Fire Museum in Phoenix, the Hall of Flame

To see more Spring Training 2014 pics, go to my flickr page .

Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show 2012

We spent some time RVing last summer with our BFF's the Nances, at the Crown Villa RV Resort in Bend, Oregon. While Nick and Rick went fishing on the Deschutes River, Lynn and I quilted outside for a couple of sunny warm days, which was really had fun.

After a couple of days, we headed to Sisters, Oregon, about 30 minutes from Bend.

Every year, for the past 37 years, on the 3rd Saturday of July, in a small town in Oregon, named Sisters (named for the 3 mountain peaks which were named after 3 sisters), there is an one day outdoor quilt show. For those who have never been to it, it is truly a "must see" to be added to any quilter's "Bucket List" of places to see. 

Most of the 3000+ beautiful quilts, from all over the US and beyond, are displayed outside on building walls,

fences, large quilt racks, railings and balconies, etc.,

all over the town of Sisters. It is a sight to behold!! 

The quilts are amazing and one day is hardly enough time to really appreciate and see each and every quilt, especially last year. The Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show on July 14th, 2012, will be remembered, not only for being a fabulous great quilt show, but also, for being the only year the quilt show was rained out! It was our first visit to this quilt show.  We had only seen about half of the quilts, and the quilts were all removed and taken down within an half an hour, by 3:30 pm. It didn't just lightly rain; it also hailed and poured rain for several hours!

We loved seeing all the beautiful quilts and do plan to return this year.  We are praying (probably along with many others) that the show will not see any rain this year!!

After our time in Bend, we headed back to California, spending some time with the Nances at their home in Redding.  Then we caravaned to Lake Almanor and spent a week with our other camping friends the Lauries and Merandis. It's a rustic campground, right on the lake's edge, but it's seeing our friends that draws us there!!

  Great vacation, as always!! 

You can see more of my pictures from the Sisters Quilt Show on my flickr page.

To see our summer vacation pictures click this link.

Merry Christmas!

                  Now that it’s December it’s time to recall the fun we shared in 2012!  It’s been a great year spent with family and friends, traveling and camping (RVing), and enjoying our retirement! We’ve really loved spending lots of time with our 4 grandkiddos.  Gigi turned 5 in May and the whole family joined her for her first visit to Disneyland. There is nothing sweeter than seeing Disneyland through the eyes of a child! Brody and Micah are 2 ½ and talking up a storm, while little Hallee is 18 months, climbing on everything and displaying some not so cute “terrible two” behaviors early!

                  We ventured to a new location and enjoyed a fantastic week, truly relaxing by the pool which was right next to the amazing teal-blue ocean waters of the Caribbean, at an all-inclusive resort in Cancun with great friends. We traveled back to Washington DC, in the early fall, and meandering through several Smithsonian Museums. We visited with friends at their “beach” house in beautiful Currituck, (near Outer Banks), North Carolina, and in Virginia. We took a day trip to the picturesque colonial settlement of Williamsburg. It amazes us how much there is to see back east and all the history there is to absorb. So we know we will be going back several more times in the future.

                  During 2012, we used our RV even more. We went to Spring Training in Arizona for a month and attended our first Good Sam Rally held at the Phoenix Raceway (never seen so many RV’s in one location-literally 1000’s)!!  We spent several weekends at Newport Dunes RV Resort, to visit with Alex, Angelina and Micah who live nearby. We ventured to northern California for our now annual week of camping in Fort Bragg for Abalone Diving with our longtime camping buddies, Lynn & Rick. This year Nicole and David and kids joined us; it was a great week of camping reminiscent of all the years our families have camped together (although a few of our kids couldn’t make it)! Summer vacation took us back to Bend Oregon (such a beautiful area) where we attended the Annual Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. Great show, although we didn’t get the chance to see all the quilts because it was rained out for the first time in its 37 year history! We spent time in Redding with Lynn & Rick, (Lynn and I got to do some quilting while the boys went fishing) before a week of camping at Lake Almanor, meeting up with more camping friends. We spent a quiet weekend in our RV at KQ Ranch in Julian late fall before our Annual Thanksgiving week of camping at San Elijo State Beach....And did I mention we got a new diesel pusher in the Spring! It’s got 4 slides, a roomier layout, more power and better storage!

                  Nick has traveled quite a bit to Sacramento this past year and stays very busy now that he is working with the State Fire Marshal’s office on fire training curriculum. He’s also traveled to Northern California and Tucson with several other retired fire professionals for fire teaching and advising. It’s his way of giving back to the fire profession to which he dedicated his life’s work.

                  I attended several quilt retreats this year with my friend Lynn (for a couple of retreats our hubbies joined us for the weekend and we RVed at Flying Flags RV Resort).  I made many quilts for gifts and charity this year -my way of giving back!

                  Nicole, David and 3 kids moved in with us in September because the owners wanted their house back.  3 weeks turned into 3 months, but they moved this past weekend into their “new” condo. They are very excited to be first time“homeowners” and to have freshly painted the walls!

                  Alex started a new t-shirt design business and has his own online store (http://fiftyfivesouth.storenvy.com/). Check it out--he's got some "awesome" designs. But the best news of all is that Micah’s “only child” status “expires” next June when we will welcome a new Pavone into the family!!

                  Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas.  

                                    May you richly be blessed by God in the coming new year.

                                                      Love & Joy,
                                                      Karen & Nick

Thankfulness, My Personal Challenge

This November I joined with others doing the Personal Challenge of posting a Thankful Thought each day! 

November 1 - I'm thankful for God's Grace.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God."
Ephesians 2:8

November 2 - I'm thankful for my loving family. They are so dear to my heart!

November 3 -  I'm thankful for my loving husband who has always provided for me and our family.

November 4 - I am thankful for each new day and the hope I have because of my God!

November 5 - I'm thankful for my friends, near and far. They are so dear to me.

November 6 - I am so thankful for the freedoms I have as an American. I am especially thankful to all those who serve in the military, have served or even gave their lives to protect our freedom! No matter who wins today's election I know God is in control.

November 7 - I'm thankful for our home and the food in our fridge

November 8 -  I am thankful to be "retired" and to have the means and ability to travel, especially with family and friends! We love to go camping in our RV, fly to new cities/countries, and cruise!!!

November 9 - I am so blessed and thankful for my cute, beautiful, adorable grand babies. Each day with them is more special than the last. They bring so much joy to my life, more than words can say. I love you Gigi, Brody, Micah and Hallee, and #5 due next June!!!!!

November 10 - I am thankful that I have the time and resources to attend retreats where I can do what I love: sew and quilt!! I thank God for this talent and enjoy making quilts for others, family and friends.

November 11 - I am thankful for the warmth inside my cozy motorhome, wrapped in a warm quilt when it's 45 degrees outside, and spending time with friends!!

November 12 - Veteran's Day - Today especially, I am thankful for and I honor those who have served, are serving, and those who will choose to serve to protect America! Hats off to you all! Thank you for your selfless service!

November 13 - I am thankful for the joy I have in the Lord, no matter the circumstances or situations of life. He can calm my heart and spirit if I turn to Him.
"Joy is in the Lord … in His nearness, His perfect love that casts out fear." 1 John 4:18

November 14 - I am thankful for a spontaneous night at the movies with my hubby!! We spent the evening with "Bond, James Bond!"

November 15 - I am thankful for hugs from the little peeps in my life! This morning Gigi knocked on my bedroom door to kiss and hug me goodbye before she left for school. Hallee came walking down the hall and gave me the biggest full body hug around my legs! Words just can't describe how those hugs warm my heart and make it sing!!

November 16 - I'm thankful for quiet moments in the morning, which seem to be rare these days with 3 lil ones living in our house with us!

November 17 - I'm thankful for the beautiful clouds and blue skies above us today!

November 18 - I'm thankful for wonderful family traditions like a week of camping (aka RVing) at the beach for Thanksgiving week. I'm especially thankful for an awesome beach front campsite, the sounds of the waves crashing on the shore, and the views of the Pacific Ocean that are so soothing and relaxing. Thank you Lord for this special family time!

November 19 - 34 years ago today I married my best friend Nick! I'm so thankful for the best husband with whom I've shared my life. He is more special to me and our family than words can express! Here's to many more years together as we walk in this life! I love you, Nick! I'm ever so thankful for all the memories we've shared and will share! Happy Anniversary to us!

November 20 - I'm thankful for another beautiful day at the beach, just sitting, relaxing, doing a little knitting while listening to the ocean waves rolling in and rolling out! Doesn't get much better than this!

November 21 - I'm thankful for beautiful sunsets at the beach!

November 22 - Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Today I am so thankful for all our blessings from God: for family and friends, near and far, for our health, for a beautiful sunny day at the beach, for the feast we will have this afternoon, for all our grand kiddos with us today! We truly have so much for which to be thankful! Praying God will fill your Thanksgiving this year with the warmth of His love... the blessing of His care.
"Let us come to Him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to Him." Psalm 95:2 

November 23 -  I'm thankful for the "energy" and smiles of 4 little people in my life! I love watching them all interact! They add fun to the day! 

November 24 - I'm thankful for another beautiful sunny day at the beach, listening to the sounds of the ocean! So peaceful and relaxing !

November 25 - "Lord, whether I am in the limelight or shadows, whether I am active or quiet, 
                            whether I am being enlarged or reduced, whether I have much or little, I am content 
                            and thankful because I have You."  by Roy Lessin

November 26 - I'm thankful for a husband who enjoys to cook, especially since it's not my favorite thing to do!! He's a great cook and likes to try new recipes! Thanks Nick!

November 27 - I'm thankful for little "hi's" from the littlest Bennett, when she escapes the blockade and surprises Papa and I in our bedroom, while we were selecting clothes for him to take on his trip to Tucson!!!

November 28 - I am thankful that there is always something good in every day, even though the day may not seem to be good!!

November 29 - I'm so thankful the Lord has healed Dan (our daughter's F-I-L). In Oct of this year, he had stem cells transplant (from one of his 4 sisters, Jo). He was diagnosed with Chronic myelogenous leukemia CML in Oct.2011. This week he found out that his recent test of his bone marrow shows it is completely negative for the Philadelphia Chromosome (that bad one, which is CML)! Thank you GOD!!

This November I have thought (a lot) about what I am thankful for each day, and I have come to realize it is something I should do everyday. I'm praying for a more grateful heart, especially as the celebration of Jesus's birth quickly approaches. So today, the last day of November, I am thankful God loves me even when my heart isn't as grateful as it should be. I have so many blessings in my life, and I am truly thankful for each and every one of them. I will praise God from whom all blessings flow!

At a time when all the things we're grateful for turn our hearts to God, may the harvest of His peace and love abide in your home and bless your life. May the Lord bless you, and keep you. Numbers 6:24

MY FAVORITE THINGS

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!"