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Archive for the ‘M & M’ Category

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Birthday Blessings

Saturday, October 13th, 2007

Yesterday was a lovely day. Not perfect, weather-wise, but a nice day to head out to the Hood River Fruit Loop for some apple and pear picking.

Before we left, the UPS guy brought me a package from one of my fave blogger friends, Dee. it contained not one, but two birthday cards, one silly and one sublime. She made me this beautiful table topper which she calls Very Gerrie Lime! Look how gorgeous it looks with my lime green bowl filled with fall gourds.

I love that leaf fabric.

Thank you, Dee!!

Then, Steph and M & M picked me up and we headed out to Hood River, the fruit mecca of Oregon. At the STASH meeting, Beth gave me a coupon for free apples and pears at the Mt. View Orchard so we had a destination and a purpose.
Here are M & M in the van on the way.

The scenery was beautiful.

Here are some pics from the orchard – all clickable to see larger.

During our lunch, this brown lab took a liking to Steph.

I bought one of these big sunflowers to hang on my fence for the birds.

Here are some of the Red Delicious Apples and Red D’Anjou Pears that I got for free. We picked 44 pounds of apples and pears which only cost us 25 cents a pound – what a bargain!

Last night Mr C took me to one of my fave restaurants, Caprials. I had grilled Romaine salad, grilled tuna on a butternut squash cakes and pound cake with pears — all yummy. I had to use some of my extra WW points, but it was worth it.

Today, I have been getting ready for my class with Wendy Huhn. I had to get some laser color prints made. I hope to have some fun images to share as I go through the next few days. I also am still uploading cds to my IPod. I got a thing for playing the Nano in my car. I love having all my music at my finger tips. Now, I have to figure out how to get it to work with our stereo system. I will have to go to Radio Shack and get a cable then I will be in business.

Posted in Eating out, Family, Good mail, M & M, Quilting Friends | 5 Comments »

Thursday This and That

Thursday, October 11th, 2007

I have had a nice day. My STASH group met here today. We didn’t discuss our book. We had a few things for show and tell, but we did the most important thing — we talked a little, laughed a lot and had a great time catching up. I prepared a tortellini soup, pear, green bean and feta salad and an apple tart for dessert. I should have taken some photos before we consumed the goodies! And they were all WW recipes!!

This afternoon, I added the finishing touches to my last Round Robin collage piece. As I mentioned yesterday, I did two and it is a good thing because I noticed today that the first one I did was the wrong orientation on the page! Here it is. I used some of my Chinese Good Luck papers, and some motifs and a dragon that I printed. It also has an embroidered dragon, a red tassel and some old Chinese coins.

The other piece is my favorite. The first layer is torn tissue paper in 4 different colors. Next, I cut some curvy strips of a piece of art cloth which I glued down in a circular design. I then monoprinted a blue similar circular design. The final layer was copper foil. I painted glue with a brush and after it dried, I added the foil.

I decided that it needed a little more depth and detail so I stamped various designs using Tsukeniko inks.

I need to get these shipped off to Rita as she has been waiting a long time for her work to return.

The other activity that is occupying a lot of my time involves this:

I used some of my American Express points to acquire this shiny red IPod Nano. I am in the process of uploading all of our cd’s. I was complaining to my son-in-law, Jack, that I was having a problem managing all of my cd’s and he suggested that I upload them to an IPod and use it to play music in my car and on the home stereo. Brilliant!!

Tomorrow is the real Columbus Day and my birthday. It is my last year in my 60’s – eek! However, when I was shopping at Mill End’s yesterday, the clerk said – You aren’t 65, are you? Ha! I almost didn’t admit it, but I wanted the discount.

M & M are out of school and so we are going to go out to Hood River and hunt down apples and pears and pumpkins and have a birthday picnic. Doesn’t that sound perfect. Mr C will take me out to dinner in the evening. I am a lucky old broad.

Posted in M & M, My creations, Quilting Friends, round robin collage, This and that, Uncategorized | 11 Comments »

Grandma’s Rules…

Saturday, October 6th, 2007

or What Happens at Grandma’s Stays at Grandma’s.

  1. Make hot chocolate from scratch with the best cocoa and serve it with cereal (without milk) in the family room with the TV on.

2. Let your grandchildren play with your studio bling while you get in a half hour of sewing.

3. Instead of taking them to the library (as suggested by their mother), take them to the toy store and buy them some new toys.

4. Let them pick out whatever they want for lunch at the grocery store. Even if they don’t eat it, give them dessert.

5. Squirt whipped cream into their mouths and tell them to never, ever tell their mom!!!!

6. Allow them to plant tulips in your living room sofa — hold the water.

7. Have Grandpa get on the floor and color Hello Kitty with them.

8. Have a match box car rally on the kitchen island.

9. Give them hugs and kisses every hour on the hour.

10. Tell them you love them over and over.

Posted in Just for Fun, M & M | 19 Comments »

TGIF

Friday, October 5th, 2007

This was our mantra when I was in college. We had TGIF parties, and it seemed as if we lived for the week-ends. Later, as a wife and mom, I looked forward to Fridays and week-end activities with the family. Then, when I went back to work, I looked forward to the week-ends to do what I wanted or to catch up on household activities. When we retired, Fridays no longer took on any kind or special significance.

So, I was amused this morning when Miles announced that Friday was his favorite day. I guess it is hard to be an almost 6 year old, trudging off to school all week long. I was thinking about all the reasons in his future that will make Fridays a great day for him.

I survived the morning routine and got them to school, a little early.

Mia, of course, has to do the silly pose for me.

After dropping them off, I realized that I had about 6 hours to get some work done, well maybe 4 after some computer time and an hour walking the dog. Last night, I started cutting the panels for the new curtains for our bedroom redo. So I worked on those today and almost finished before it was time to pick them up. Look at how nicely I matched the seams.

Miles brought his quilt with him and since I don’t have photos of it, I took some today. It looks pretty good for having been dragged around and slept with for 5 years. And look at how square and flat that baby is.

Here is a closeup. Each window had a fussy cut funny face in it. For some of the windows, I printed pictures of the family and Maggie. Those are quite faded now.

I had fun doing the machine quilting on this. It is called two way traffic because the quilted traffic is going in the opposite direction.

I hope you are having a good week-end with loved ones.

Posted in House and home stuff, M & M | 6 Comments »

On Being a Grandma

Thursday, October 4th, 2007

We picked up Mia and Miles from school today and we will have them until Saturday. Miles is in kindergarten. I looked through the window of the door and caught his eye in circle time and he gave me a great big smile. Mia, on the other hand, saw me waiting for Miles and told me she would be waiting outside. She got her Grandpa to carry all of her stuff to the car!!

I believe that 5 and 7 year olds take extra oxygen from the air, leaving the grandma exhausted when it seems as if she has not done that much! Having them here for an extended time makes me appreciate what a good mom Stephanie is. It is almost impossible to keep a neat and orderly house. As one mess gets cleaned up, another is created.

We took a quick walk through the Rhododendron Garden and fed the ducks. I thought if they got some exercise and fresh air, they might settle down more easily tonight. It worked. After supper and a little Sprouts TV, they are sound asleep.

There will be no retirement sleep-in tomorrow. I have to get up early to make breakfast, pack lunches and get them dressed and out the door. Miles wants scrambled eggs, bacon and waffles.

Posted in Family, M & M, Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

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