Father's Day and a Birthday

Father's Day this year fell on Mr. Scottie Dog's birthday.  The long weekend also began on Liz and Steve's 10th wedding anniversary.  So Mr. Dog and I packed up the trailer, drove about 35 miles south east to one of our favorite campgrounds: Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park.  We swam in the creek, made new friends, saw a lot of wildlife.  Sydney and I made a berry cobbler for Mr. Scottie Dog's birthday (how old is he?  He'll be signing up for MediCare before the year is out!), we roasted marshmallows, went on hikes, read books and.....rested.  

Even the fallen trees are big!

 

Sydney and the birthday boy.

A deer in the middle of the campground.  He didn't know he should be afraid of people yet.

Yep, in Northern California the trees grow tall!

Hiking in the Redwood Forest.

Here's our trailer nestled between the giants.  Notice that we don't really rough it.  Some people call it "glamping"! That's short for Glamour Camping. I'm just happy for a shower.

While Sydney and Grandpa were off on their own one day, I had a big thrill.  I heard what I thought was a bunch of people wading/running in the creek below our camp site.  Since it was an area quite far removed from the swimming area I got up to look.  I saw a family of at least 8 otter swimming and playing in the creek.  I was able to watch them and hear them chatter for about 10 minutes before they swam back upstream.

It was a grand time.  Now we're back home and back to work, grateful for a bit of "re"-creation time in the beautiful country we live in.

My sewing room is safe!

Yahoo! My sewing area is safe from the clean-up police!  I found my camera in a tote bag I took to work.....whew!

Just thought you'd like to know!






PS. If you are completely in the dark as to what this post is about, you should read yesterday's post  HERE.

Dropped off the Face of the Earth?

 Hi all!
Did you think I dropped off the face of the earth?  No, I have misplaced my camera here at home.  I suppose that means in my sewing area.  I've looked a few times, spending about 10 minutes each time but with no success.  Now, don't rag on me about how you are picturing my sewing space....yes, it is a tad chaotic, perhaps some might call it m.e.s.s.y.  But I call it a lovely creative space!  Never mind that I can't find my camera (or my Purple Thang...if you don't know what that is....well, suffice it to say that it is something I use for quilting). I LIKE my sewing space...spread out, I like my things, fabric, books, patters and what have you...available for my perusal at any time the creative bug bites.

I have lots of photos in my camera I wanted to share here on the blog.  Photos of Quilt Market, of current projects I'm designing or working on, a table runner I made for a trade with the nicest woman in upstate NY. (I have no idea where that is exactly, but I've always thought it sounded cool.  I live in Upstate California...doesn't sound the same.  Where I live in NORTHERN CA makes San Francisco in CENTRAL CA!).

I have photos in my camera of the Kinetic Sculpture Race, of the beautiful sunshine on my rhododendrons, of my granddaughter at her end-of-the-year honors assembly at school last week...and so on and so on.

I guess I REALLY need to clean this up. 






PS...going camping with Sydney tomorrow.  Hope my house sitters have fun (but don't you dare mess up my sewing space!).

Mother's Day

My mom, Marcella Mae Pontious McNally was born in 1918.  Here she is in 1944.  Big smile, fancy hairdo of the times.   She looks like fun.  And she WAS fun!

My mom did so much for us as we were growing up.  The family finances were such that vacations were camping/fishing trips to the rivers, forests and mountains from CA to Yellowstone Park.  I'm certain she would have loved to have stayed at the resort....being served her meals instead of pumping up the Coleman gas stove and fixing us three squares a day.  She made life around the campsite fun.  We would go on scavenger hunt hikes, fish in streams, play with the worms (!), look at all the wildflowers and feed peanuts to the squirrels.  There are family pictures of myself and my two younger brothers...some in diapers.....those were cloth diaper days and our campsites boasted a family-sized canvas tent, a fire ring and a wooden table.  Down the road somewhere there was an outhouse and a cold water spigot.  Mom did the laundry, cooked the meals, tended to the diapers, bandaged up the scrapes, cleaned the fish AND had us bathe in the tent each evening before we went to bed.  And I think I rough it with a 30' trailer complete with microwave, air conditioning and a nice shower!

 

Mom was a whiz at cards. Pinochle, Gin Rummy, Bridge, Shanghai, Spite and Malice.  Oh, my, was she good at cards.  Here eyes would light up and she'd hear all the news, get you to bare your soul while she played cards.  She could to the Sunday New York Times Crossword puzzle in INK. She also loved jigsaw puzzles.

 

Mom was involved in our activities...Camp Fire, Little League, Room Mother, you name it...she participated.  She was a good cook.  Not a gourmand, but she cooked good, solid food well.  Growing up we loved her Tamale Pie, Chili-mac, Jello Poke Cake.  She made marshmallows!

 

She excelled at being a grandma....I learned so much from her in my life: how to live honestly, to be kind and a good friend to others, to serve those less fortunate.  How to be a good mother and wife.  I miss her each and every day.



 

In 1992 Bill and I began a tradition of yearly visits to Maui with my parents. We cherished those 2 weeks in Paradise with my folks.  Mom and I had so much fun visiting with each other, sharing family news, trips to the Farmer's Market to get whatever was fresh and cook it  up.  We'd eat on the lanai, on the beach, wherever.  Dad and Bill snorkeled and explored as guys will do.  They did do the barbecuing.  I think we were able to make 7 or 8 trips together. 

 

Mom---you enriched my life in so many ways.....I am who I am because of you and I hope I made you proud.

While the cat's away.....

The other night Liz and  I went to a "Ladies Night Out" craft fair and to Quilt Guild.  Sydney and Gampa had a fun night too.  They ate dinner at Sydney's favorite place (Sizzler) and when we came home this is what we found!  I guess when the Moms are away.....the accordions they will play.

Our Staff Retreat

I didn't realize that I hadn't posted the pictures of our staff retreat in April.  It was so much fun.  We rented a beach house in Brookings, OR, we closed the store and took our staff on a lovely quilting retreat.  Liz and I planned the meals, did the shopping, prepared little surprises and gifts. One night we all opted for ice cream from Dairy Queen instead of dinner....it was that kind of trip.  In no particular order here are some shots:



One night we made authentic Carnitas....and so there were Margaritas, complete with tiny umbrellas.

Kathi taught a zipper bag class....here she's conferring with Liz.



Kathi & Geri....does our staff love each other or what?

Several of the gals made matching flannel PJ bottoms....Scottie Dog Fabric, of course!

Laura taught everyone how to make Pico de Gallo!  I'll never buy it again...so good and so easy!

(L-R: Laura, Geri, Kathi, Katie, Liz)

Judy sewing away...our machines were smoking

 Geri and Katie were good students and finished their "Little Glam Bags" from Kathi's class.

Morning comes early when you stay up late watching movies!  Crystal & Laura.

 

I think Katie sums it all up, "What could be more fun!"

 

We all said many times, "Why don't we do this often?"  And why not?  We are a bunch of ladies who love to quilt, love to have fun & laugh, and genuinely like each other!