Finished July Projects

(Written on July 31st, posted on Aug 3rd! )

I'm on a roll--starting and finishing quilts, blankets, and blocks and more. I finished the two quilts I set out to complete in July, as a member of the groups "One Project a Month Challenge" (OPAM) and the"Charming Girls' Quilt Club" (CGQC). A list of the projects I have completed so far this year is listed in my side bar. (I need to link pictures to each but will have to have my daughter help me do that when she isn't so busy with Gigi (2) and blogging herself!!!)

Both of these quilts are gifts! So.... since they are gifts and I haven't yet given them to their respective new owners, I will just give you a peek at the backs, so as not to spoil the surprise.

For this lap quilt I chose to piece the back with leftover fabric I used to make the quilt top. (Actually a sneak peek at the front of this quilt is in my last post!)
For this baby quilt made for one of my daughter's friend's baby shower, I used one fabric that has a "jungle theme" with green foliage, trees, palms and lush foliage, blue waterfalls, blue-yellow sky, and more. It matches the fabrics I chose for the quilt top.
As if finishing two quilts wasn't enough, I also finished a Pieced Nine Patch Front with Flannel Back Baby Blanket (for another upcoming baby shower!).

I'll add pictures of these finished quilts and blanket in a week or two, after I have given them to my friends, so check back!

Charming Girls' Quilt Club-July Projects to Complete

So, I joined the Charming Girls' Quilt Club, a virtual quilting club, whose purpose is to encourage quilters to complete their projects. Many of us have several WISP's (Works In Slow Progress) in our sewing rooms. Those who don't quilt don't seem to understand how we quilters can start a new project before an old project has been completed. There are numerous reasons for this, but suffice it to say, almost all quilters do have many projects in various stages of the process, that they are working on at one time. Has something to do with the creative mind, I think!

I have two projects that I plan to complete during the month of July. One is a lap quilt in golds, oranges and dark reds from Eleanor Burns" Quick Trip Quilts book. It's actually almost finished. I am in the midst of quilting it myself. Then I have to sew the binding on and bind it by hand....
My second quilt project I haven't started as yet....but plan to start it next week. It is a gift I need finished by the first week of August, so I think my goal to cut, sew and complete it before the end of July is doable! I'm not sure of the pattern; I'm thinking of possibly doing 4 or 9 patch blocks alternating with solid blocks (that I may applique some animals on) or a crazy nine patch design. Here's a picture of my fabrics....More on this quilt as it develops!

Now I'm off to Pensacola, Florida, for the weekend with family. Going to my niece's wedding! I'm taking some hand applique (Bunny Hill's "A Tisket, A Tasket" BOM) and a good book with me!! I have two very long travel days, there and back.

June, Part 2

The week after our trip to New York was just your average week: laundry, work, etc.

June 19th was my birthday and we celebrated the day

at Disneyland,

along with 1,000's of others who happen to share my birthday!!! I've never seen so many people with the same birthday (but everyday must be like that now that the Disney company has the Free Admission Day on Your Birthday--just sign up on their website)! They gave me a "Happy Birthday Button" with my name on it so many a stranger would call out "Happy Birthday, Karen" as they walked by! It seemed as though 1 in 4 people had those Birthday Buttons on! I was sung Happy Birthday while standing in the line for the Pirates of the Carribean ride and on the Jungle Cruise boat.
We met up with Alex and Angelina, her parents, Peggy and Rene, and her sister and family (Celeste, Daniel, Maliah (5), Sophia (1) and cousin, Trinity (8)). As it happens I share my birthday with Angelina's dad, Rene, and her niece, Sophia!!

We hadn't been to Disneyland in 7 years! While most of the park has remained the same over the years, with minor adjustments or changes, and the addition of new rides, the same can't be said for parking.We parked in their new HUGE parking structure which is away from the entrance. We were amazed that it took us an hour to get from our car, via a Disney tram, to the lines to get the tickets and then finally enter Disneyland!!

Despite the crowds, the lines weren't that long for most rides and we had an exhausting, fun filled day at the "Happiest Place on Earth!" We rode all the best rides: Space Mountain, Star Tours, Buzz Lightyear, Thunder Mountain, Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Indiana Jones, and of course, the Matterhorn--in fact we closed the park down, leaving Disneyland just after midnight!

The next morning, June 20th, we went to the San Diego County Fair (known to San Diegans as the Del Mar Fair)! This year the Annual Burn Run was also held at the fairgrounds, rather than Qualcomm Stadium on this day.

Nick and I with Mike Shore (Capt-RSFFD)

Each fire department within SD county drives an engine to the designated location picking up other department's engine along the way. It is a big event to raise money for the San Diego Burn Institute. Nick went in uniform and met up with many of the other fire chiefs from around the county in support of the event. Nick's department then did a demonstration of putting out a car fire which was quite interesting to watch.

RSFFPD engine arrives at the burning car!

Checking to make sure the fire is out.

We walked around the fair after the Burn Run activities were over surveying all the vendors and their products! Of course, we didn't leave the fair empty handed. We always find some great deals!!

We were exhausted by Sunday, Father's Day, so we just hung out at home. Nicole made a delicious Father's Day feast for us to enjoy; Alex and Ang came down for dinner and the yummy "Red Velvet Cake" Nicole made me for my birthday. (Thanks, Nicole!) Another great weekend.

To see more pictures go to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/72308330@N00/sets/72157620728350342/

As the end of June nears, I couldn't end this blog without wishing

Nicole and David a very Happy 6th Anniversary!! (June 28)
We love you !!

Summer Travels: June, Part 1

To say June has been busy for us would be an understatement!

June 4-8 we flew to San Francisco and spent a nice, long, relaxing, fun weekend with our good friends Nancee and Marc Revere in Novato, California.

Grape vines at the Gloria Ferrar Winery in Sonoma, California

Talk about spoiling!! The Reveres are quite the hosts!! Their house is stunning with a large patio area in the front, completely fenced for privacy. The accommodations and hospitality were fabulous; food was quite yummy and gourmet, both at their house and out; wine was flowing, as we went wine tasting in Sonoma and Napa; sightseeing was awesome as they picked us up from SFO, drove us down Lombard Street, then to Fisherman's Wharf in SF, all around Novato, Sonoma, Napa and from Napa over to River's End where the Russian River flows into the Pacific, along the Coast, and then back to the Reveres.
The highlight for us was sailing all around San Francisco Bay in their 42' Hunter Passage Sailboat on a beautiful clear day!! If they owned a "Bed and Breakfast" theirs would definitely be FIVE STARS in every category!

Thanks Nancee and Marc for a truly superb weekend!

To see our pictures go to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/72308330@N00/sets/72157619798417520/

Home for a day and then we were off again!

June 10-14 we flew to New York City where we had a whirlwind, fun weekend!! It was Nick's first visit to the Big Apple (I visited NYC for a weekend with my friend, Jeanette back in the 90's). We took a bus to Grand Central Station and then took the Metro Train North to Poughkeepsie (pronounced PU-KIP-SIE)New York to surprise our niece,

Breanna, at her college graduation from

the Culinary Institute of America,

where she earned her Bachelor's Degree!
(Congratulations Breanna-we are all so proud of you!!!)

We met her parents there, Nick's younger brother Joe and his wife Laurel, their other daughter, Marissa, Laurel's sister, Barbara, and Nicole, David and Gigi for a great luncheon following the graduation and dinner later that night.

On Friday morning we took the train back to New York City and spent the rest of our time taking in the sights: the Empire State Building, Times Square, Battery Park,

the Statue of Liberty, of course,

Ellis Island, Central Park, the MET, Ground Zero, and

the Subway, which was fun and at times challenging!! Each one of the letters and colors represent a different route on the Subway-navigating wasn't the easiest thing to do at times, but Nick did a great job reading the maps and figuring which line we needed to take to get around Manhattan.

Nicole, Gigi and I enjoying riding the subway !!

We saw a great musical "On Broadway" called "In the Heights" about the Latino community in Manhattan Heights, and had a late night dinner at the famous "Junior's Delicatessan." Of course, we couldn't leave New York before taking a ride in a "Yellow Cab," which truly was an experience--if we'd had more time we might have tried taking the train and then subway to JFK instead!

That's just half the month of June. More to follow soon!!

Jazmin and Jordan's Wedding!

Mr & Mrs Anderson--Just married on May 23, 2009 !

Last weekend we attended the rehearsal dinner and wedding of our nephew, Jordan and his new bride, Jazmin. The wedding was held in the hills of Simi Valley at the Lost Canyons Golf Club . It was great seeing family, our mom, our Auntie Ruth, my sister, Kathy and her family. The outdoor wedding was beautiful--blue skies, bright sun, and a bit of a chilly wind! We are so happy for the newlyweds.

Our son, Alex and Jordan (friends and family since birth, 16 months apart in age)
just before the ceremony.

From l to r: Pastor, Jordan and his groomsmen: Travis, best man, Quin, Dane, Alex, our nephew, Josh, brother of groom, and Tommy.

Our niece, Ashley, sister of the groom, our daughter, Nicole
and our "daughter", Angelina right after the ceremony.

The bride and groom with their cousins!

.

Angelina, Auntie Ruth, sister of our mom, Grandma, and Alex.

It was great seeing old friends:

especially John, our "brother", his wife and daughter and granddaughter from Washington state. Kathy and I grew up with John (he was our next door neighbor, and like a "brother" to us-went on many a vacation with our family over the years).

Pictured above are Cheryl and John's middle daughter, Lynn and her daughter, Claire, 22 months, standing with our daughter, Nicole, and her daughter, Gigi, 2 yrs.

Our wedding gift to Jazmin and Jordan was a queen size "How Charming" quilt I made and quilted in their colors! It was a true labor of love and a joy to make for them as their start their life together.
Click here to see all my pictures http://www.flickr.com/photos/72308330@N00/sets/72157618988532076/

Today is the One Year Anniversary of
our son Alex
and his wife, Angelina.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!
We love you!

Gigi Turns "2" !!

Gigi is 2 years old!

Papa pulls Gigi in the new Radio Flyer ATW (All Terrain Wagon)
we bought her for her second birthday!

Yaya and the birthday girl! Isn't she a little doll!!

These days we are blessed by the sounds of our now 2 year old granddaughter as she runs around our house. We are really enjoying her living with us (and her parents)! She is a bundle of energy (wish I had half of it!) and she lights up our lives. She has such an infectious laugh that puts a smile on our faces immediately! We just can't get enough of that cute laugh of hers!!! Her 2nd birthday party was held at Oceanside Harbor Beach. It was so fun just watching her run around and interact with her little friends! It seems like only yesterday she was a tiny newborn, but alas, she is "so big" now that she just started climbing out of her crib! OH MY! More fun times ahead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

More birthday pics:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/72308330@N00/sets/72157618302173118/

Spring Flowers in Our Yards!

Spring has sprung and the flowers are in full bloom. As I walked around our yards this morning I took some pictures of our flowers. They are always so pretty this time of year.

We've lived in our house for over 8 years and Nick has been tirelessly working on the yards ever since. It seems fitting to display some of the fruits of his labor at this time as he can only savor the beauty of our gardens while he recovers from his shoulder surgery. Aren't these flowers breathtakingly beautiful!?!

I love all the bright pink colors that are surrounding the walkway, waterfall, and slide of our pool area. (Unfortunately, the darker pink flowers only bloom for about 6-8 weeks, right now, during spring.

This is the arched trellis used in Alex and Angelina's wedding almost a year ago now. It now stands at the entrance to our fruit trees area and adds a nice memory to our beautiful backyard, created by the very talented and dedicated guy who spends so many hours tending to the details of the landscaping of our yards, known as my husband, dad, and chief.
Thanks, Nick, for all the hours you have put into the beauty of our yards!

Surf City Weekend

(Huntington Beach Pier)

Last weekend we spent time with the family in the RV in Surf City Huntington Beach. It was our last RV outing for a while, since the chief had to have rotator cuff surgery. He won't be able to drive the RV for a few months.We "camped" right next to the boardwalk which runs along the edge of the big, sandy beaches that go for miles along the Pacific Coast. We stayed for three nights at the City of Huntington Beach's Sunset Vista Camping Facility, which is in the midst of the public parking lots. It is open for RV camping from October 1 through May 31st each year, offers water and electricity, and one of the most spectacular ocean views in Southern California!(The view from our RV front window)

Nicole, David and Gigi stayed with us in the "home mome" for two nights. Gigi just loves riding in Papa's "home mome." Alex and Angelina came down for dinner on Thursday and on Friday night we had some of the kids' friends come for a BBQ and bon fire on the beach (too cold for me, though, so I stayed in the "home mome" with Gigi). David's parents joined us on Saturday, for a bike ride down the boardwalk and dinner.
The weather turned out to be really nice the entire weekend. We had clear blue skies and sunny days mixed with a few clouds and lots of ocean winds. We took lots of walks down the boardwalk and out on the HB Pier, where we watched surfers riding the big waves. All in all it was another great weekend in the RV!

More photos on my flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/72308330@N00/sets/72157617553066327/

A Tribute to Captain Bill!

Our good friend, Bill recently achieved a life long dream which had been on hold for over 35 years. That dream came true on December 23, 2008, when Bill passed his flying test and received his private pilot's license! Not only did he pass on his first try, it was also his 30th wedding anniversary on the same day!! As his daughter, Kristina says, "Dad's love of flying began well before his more than 30-year career with the Federal Government--first in the US Army, where he trained to be a helicopter crew chief, then after he graduated with his A & P (Airframe and Powerplant) license, he worked as a crew chief on some of NASA's most specialized aircraft, working his way up to aircraft maintenance supervisor for NASA Ames' research aircraft. After he retired, he was able to fulfill his life-long dream that had been on hold for over 35 years... He now enjoys exploring Northern California in his Cessna 150."

To commemorate his achievement, I recently made a special quilt for Bill. It's a quilt from Eleanor Burns' book, Victory Quilts, entitled "Flyboy," made with two 1940's blocks, the propeller and the airplane.

Here's a close-up of the airplane block.

I made a special label for the quilt with a picture of Bill and his plane!!

CONGRATULATIONS, CAPTAIN BILL!! We are really proud of you!

PS We also can't wait to fly with you sometime !!