Super Bowl Sunday

No Football in site.

For several weeks now I have been planning on taking the girls to San Francisco to visit the De Young Museum. There is an exhibit of Amish Quilts I would really like to see.

While crossing the Bay Bridge the the girls turned off the video player and the magic of the city took over. While stopping to program the Navigation system the girls asked to get out of the car and take a walk. While appreciation of the camaraderie was in order I plugged in Fisherman's Wharf for a side trip.
The Girls wanted to visit the Aquarium of the Bay.

So we did.My favorite exhibit was the Sea Nettle. This is what Wikipedia had to say about them.

"The sea nettle is radially symmetrical, marine, and carnivorous. Its mouth is located at the center of one end of the body, which opens to a gastrovascular cavity that is used for digestion. It has tentacles that surround the mouth to capture food. Nettles have no excretory or respiratory organs. Each sea nettle is free-swimming and can reproduce both sexually and asexually."


Who can visit Fisherman's wharf and not get Saltwater taffy? This is what I brought home for the boys, but, oops we ate it. Sorry boys!
The Golden Gate holds such mystery, (maybe because it is not gold?) We had to cross it.

Vista point was incredible. San Fran is truly a beautiful city. Especially when you can see it not enshrouded in fog. It was a lovely day at 59 degrees and sunny.
Knowing time was running out we went to the Museum anyway. We arrived at 5:15 pm. The parking attendant told us the museum closed at 6:30, We were in! The woman at the ticket booth told us the exhibit closed at 5:30. We were out! No too disappointing though. It just means we are up for another road trip. I did get my souvenir post card book so I can pick a favorite before I get to see them in person.

Had to show you How we spent Saturday. Watching Kevin play 2 soccer games in the pouring down rain. They had a great time the field was muddy, mucky and slushy. What more could boys want?

Wall Candy

Well, it's finished. Carolina Christmas Mystery is hanging on my wall in the office. I get to look at it all day. It looks awesome. Bonnie Hunter you are a super quilter, designer and teacher. Thank you for putting up with all of us in Quiltvillechat It reminds me of spring, windmills and blue skies. I think I will call it California Spring. I made all of the blocks but decided to use only half of them to make the quilt. I was not ready for another big quilt just yet.
I quilted it trying to simulate wind gusts but it looks like lines and spirals. Oh well. I Did free motion quilting with my DSM. This one was much easier then the king size one I finished last.
Looking forward to the next mystery.

Janurary Progress and a Formal.

I have been quilting the Carolina Christmas Mystery. The quilting part is not my favorite but having a completed project hanging on my wall definitely is.
The sunlight in my Quilt Shack is perfect this morning to show the quilting progress.A good friend of mine gave me a box of goodies for my birthday. I am just thrilled. I will and have used every single thing in this collection. She included 3 packages of bent safety pins because I recently bought safety pins at the dollar store and they were so dull I couldn't get them through the fabric. She thought I should have the real thing. I was just about to buy a new pair of little snipers because mine were getting dull. Thank you so much Lynnann.

My DS#1 went to his first formal dance last night. I was almost as excited as he was. I never went to any high school dances when I was in high school. Being 6'2" in high school I was not the most popular girl. So now I am living vicariously through my children. Is that wrong?

I was not nearly as excited as she was. That smile was a permanent fixture on her face. Very sweet, they had a good time.
Kendra was so nervous she could not even pin on the boutonniere. He was afraid for his life. Just like his father when I am anywhere near him with sharp objects. I don't know why, I am usually pretty trustworthy.

Cactus Patch

I have finally finished making my Cactus Patch Quilt from Bonnie Hunter's book "Scraps and Shirttails". The inside of the blocks are made from 2 inch strips of men's shirts. It finished at 114X112. I used cotton Batting and LOVE the feel of it. I haven't washed it yet. I think yellow walls are in order but couldn't wait to post the picture. I think that's why I haven't posted in a while. I would really like to post a photo of a finished bedroom but then you run the chance of never seeing it.



I I quilted it with my DSM (domestic sewing machine). I needed to visit my chiropractor when I was done.



For the back I used a 100% cotton sheet that I got at Overstock.com for a really good price. However it was not big enough. I pieced a big cross through it. I used a micro sharps needle. It worked really well, but the thread left a lot of lint.
Here is the sunrise this morning. I had to get up super early to get DS#1 to a bus headed to San Francisco to do a "Walk for Life" with his youth group (girlfriend) and their families. He wouldn't let the rest of us go along.


Next project is to get this baby quilted. Again, Bonnie Hunter's latest mystery Carolina Christmas. I made all of the blocks but am only using half of them for a good size throw.

Bonus picture of DD#1.

This Week

I always take this week off of work. It typically is slow and I don't like to sit around, at work any way. I like to sit around in my Quilt Shack. I am making big progress on quilting my Cactus Patch quilt. It is for my bed and is 112"X114''. Just the borders left to quilt.
I have made all the blocks for the Carolina Christmas quilt and put half of them together. I think I am going to stop here. I am tired of making big quilts.
A friend of mine, Marla made me a pin cushion. Isn't it nice and cheery? I know it is a small accent in a big room but it is perfect. I love it and now have a place to put all those flat headed pins. I have a selection in my other pincushion but can't bring myself to throw away all the round end ones that aren't sharp enough.

Christmas came and went. The children had a great time always lots of presents. Well, not as many this year because 2 of the grandparents sent money for us to take care of. When I gave the children the option they wanted door number one... the cash. With saving some, and giving some, they torn with what to buy themselves. Maybe they will be like Alea our 8 yo. She wanted a laptop and after a year of saving she got most of it so we kicked in the rest for her Christmas present.


We made yarn Christmas Ornaments. Now we are up to about 20. Hmmm good thing cheap yarn is cheap.

Today is my birthday and this is the ceremonial chair for the picture.And our annual bowling adventure. Eric won with a whopping 165.

Christmas Recital

Kevin and Alea had a music recital last night. The teacher, my friend Kelly started out the show with a nice resounding round of Christmas caroling.

Alea is playing the piano


Kevin with the guitar.
The children enjoyed themselves and did ham it up a bit.

Fun Long Week

have had a lot of fun since my last post.

We had a snow storm that closed the schools for two days. My DH is from MN and just rolls his eyes when they close the schools here in Ca. for a little snow and ice. Here we are walking down our driveway (the car parked at the bottom) going back to school.We had an 8th birthday.
Sewing away on Bonnie's Mystery. Here are the blocks.