Another Kid Filled Weekend

First an apology to my 7yo Alea. I mistakenly said on the last post that she did not practice the piano. I was wrong. She does practice in a drive by style. She will walk by the piano and shoot out her rendition of "Old MacDonald has a Song" then be on her way. Last night the girls organized a piano recital. There were invitations and posters decorating the refrigerator and chairs put out for the audience. Even an intermission. My 11yo Nicole held a flashlight as a spotlight on the performance. One DD organized and one DD performed. I can see how this is going to play out.


We had a Sunday afternoon trip to Pine Crest Lake. There were a lot of people, but I knew there would be. We had to circle the parking areas 3 times to find a parking spot before we found a guy loading up to leave. I blocked traffic for a while but hey, where were they going to go anyway? DS and I swam a few laps to the buoys and back the water was great and refreshing!I thought this was a cool tree. Probably sick or something standing all by its self.


There was a Craft Faire in Twain Harte this weekend. We had to go and see what was there, and who was there. My kids can't believe how many people I know. But really, our community is quite small. We joke about not running out for a quick trip in your PJs because you will run into 3 or 4 people you know.
I saw Betsy and Doreen from our Guild selling raffle tickets for the opportunity quilt.
A quick game of miniature golf and we were on our way.
I have those Geese arranged in a way I like them. Now all I need is a chance to sew them together.


We're on fire. There is a fire burning in the Stanislaus National Forest about 15 miles from our community. Yesterday is was estimated 650 acres were burned and the fire is expected to last about a week. There is a lot of smoke in the air and lots of people with respiratory disorders. But, I did get a shot of the sun rising through the smoke. Very dramatic and very orange.

Big Enough?

I have been diligently working on freezer paper piecing these blocks for the past few months and kinda on a power piecing binge for the last few weeks. This morning I put them on my design wall (nice to have one). I found that these blocks make me a little anxious. All those points! Here are 56 of the 80 blocks that I have done. I think I am done making blocks.I feel that I am cheating by quitting early but, I guess it's my quilt. My next step will be arranging the blocks in a an appealing manor. I hope I can continue this one through to the end. Calming suggestions appreciated.

New Favorite Place

Yesterday we went on an adventure. Being local to a wonderful mountain community that has a variety of wilderness activities I decided to take advantage. We embarked on a trip to a place that I have heard a lot about. A place called God's Bath on the Clavey River. I asked several people how to get there with those directions being pretty vague, when I googled God's Bath I got a horror story of a woman leading a home school group there. After overcoming that obstacle my friend gave us a website that had specific instructions.

We set off. After a 22 mile drive and about a half mile of rock hopping we arrived. We found a fabulous swimming hole.I hiked in and carried my camera only to arrive and find my battery was dead. There was a lady there that let me put my memory card in her camera and she took a few pictures. The rest of the kids were down the river swimming. Here Alea is looking up at a 40 foot cliff with someone waiting to jump off into this little pool.

We Have A Winner!

We have a winner! The kids were so excited about pulling the winning ticket. If you remember they were selling raffle tickets for Double Delight to raise money for camp. Kevin got to pull and Nicole got to read the winners name. The Drum Roll please..... Ms. Terrie Miller is the winner! Congratulations Terrie. Yes, I was sure to put tickets in the drawing for everyone of my blog friends that bought them. Thank you all for supporting us.

On a different note our summer has been busy.

Kevin has been taking Guitar lessons. His teacher said he was an expert beginner. Alea has been taking piano lessons too. I cant get a picture of her practicing because she doesn't do it.
My bucket garden is coming along nicely. Will cucumbers ruin the roof?

I think I will have a tomato salad today.

Still making those Geese. 28 more to go.


Here are some on the blocks. If you turn your head sideways you can see them better. I tried to upload this picture twice, it wants to be sideways.

I have been sewing.

I have been sewing. I have finished a few blocks for the Twittletails BOM, Geese in the Forest. These take about 20-25 minutes each. they are slow going but are worth it.

This one is block 6, the last one but I only have about half done. I was hoping to finish this one and get it into the local quilt show in September. We'll see.

I made Bonnie Hunter's Quiltmaker Mystery Blocks.

I had to join a different gym because my old one closed. It is a bit more expensive but I think it will be worth it. I am training for something special. I made a little purse to carry my Ipod.

4th of July

We celebrated at my Mom's house in Fresno where it is legal to shoot off fire works.

I think we are raising a bunch of pyro maniacs.
Fun was had by all. No injuries to report.
Just a bunch of explaining why I was not going back to the fireworks stand to waste more money.
Oh yea, I got a pedicure.

Give Away

Here is a wonderful Give Away from Quilt Qua. These fabrics will look great in Christmas Lights.