Just for Fun | Crazy for Fiber

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Archive for the ‘Just for Fun’ Category

Out Came the Sun…

Tuesday, December 4th, 2007

…but it will take a while to dry up all the rain we have been having. My sis, Judy, e-mailed, wondering if we were ok because I hadn’t blogged since Saturday. No problems — just busy.

Sunday was the opening of our “Small Treasures” show. I didn’t take my camera so no photos. Terry sold 2 pieces as did several others. No sales for me and I don’t expect any as I priced mine higher than most. That is ok, I will put them on my website after the show is over.

Sunday was also the day the rain became torrential and didn’t stop until this morning. Sunday afternoon I went to the Paper Zone (I love paper stores!!) I found some blank paper and matching envelopes to print invitations to an open house that Mr C and I are having between Christmas and New Year’s. Lisa will be here and she is inviting her peep’s who live in Portland. Steph will invite her friends, too. It will be a multi-generational gathering.

I managed to get a photo of the front door on Saturday, before the rain started.

I played with it in Photoshop and got rid of the reflection of my leg!!

I selected paper in a bamboo color and printed the invite.

I did a google search and found this charming verse which I used.

Let the warmth of friendship
take the chill from the air
and the spirit of the season
make winter easier to bear.

Yesterday morning, the weather was miserable and I had an appointment with my dermatologist so Mr C drove me through the wind and flooding streets. While we were out in Clackamas, we did a Costco run and picked up a new DVD player which plays nicely with our High Definition TV. We are watching a movie and it is fantastic. The player optimizes performance of DVD’s for HDTV.

I tried to take Maggie for walks for the last two days, and we have both gotten soaked and it has been difficult to get my exercise points. So, I turned to this.

I have always enjoyed doing aerobics and weights, but we do not have a gym close to our home so I have not been getting in those activities. Yesterday, I did the 20 minute aerobic work out and today I did the toning. I must say that I am feeling it in my thighs and abs.

Today was beautiful and sunny and quite warm so I got lots of walking in plus the toning. I also cleaned up my studio so that I can start some new projects.

I have previously mentioned the project that Caron is doing to remember those lost in the Iraq war. She is assembling small quilt blocks – one for each American lost — which will have 212 French knots to represent the Iraqis lost. Look at what she and her minions have accomplished so far. Click on her name to go to her site to see other photos and how to’s, if you want to contribute to the remembrance quilt.

She was interviewed for Minnesota Public Radio. You can listen and see photos here. Caron, I am so proud of you. This project is beautiful in so many ways.

Posted in High Fiber Diet, Just for Fun, Making a Difference, This and that, Uncategorized | 4 Comments »

A Beachy Good Time

Sunday, November 25th, 2007

We are home, catching up on e-mails, putting stuff away and still looking for ways to use leftover turkey — tonight it was Turkey Enchiladas.

Day One (Wednesday): We arrived at 4 pm, and soon after we hit the beach to witness the first of some glorious sunsets.

Our beach house was only a couple of blocks from the beach in the quaint and lovely little town of Manzanita which is just south of Canon Beach. We ordered pizza from the nearby pizzeria. After dinner, we played Monopoly. Miles and Mia had played the junior version and really impressed us with how quickly they picked up the regular version. In fact, Miles ended the game with the most money and real estate. We were having so much fun that I almost forgot to make the pumpkin pie!!

Day Two (Thanksgiving Day): I jumped out of bed later than I had planned, but I still got the 20 pound turkey in the oven by 8 am for our early afternoon dinner.

After breakfast and before we needed to cook the res of the meal, the family went back to the beach for a morning walk.

Here is Mia sitting on this funky bench. Please note that her doll, Melissa, is safe in her arms.

The weather was sunny and brisk, and we all worked up a hearty appetite. I rushed back to the house to start cooking. The rest of the family showed up a little later with Mia in tears. Melissa was missing. they had backtracked and searched in places where they thought she might have been dropped, to no avail.

We made up some stories about what might have happened to her. She was swimming to Japan and would be adopted by a little Japanese girl. Or, she was the new toy for some happy dog. Mia gamely played along. She made this poster to post in case someone had found her.

After we had stuffed ourselves on turkey and all the proper accompaniments, we headed back to the beach with the poster, for one last look.

Mia was despairing of ever seeing Melissa, again. I bought the doll for her one day when she and I had a special outing together. She always has the doll with her and so I was quite excited when I looked down and saw her in the sand. I wish I had taken a photo of the pathetic sight!! I started doing a happy dance. So, here she is with her very happy Mia.

Feeling relieved, Steph, Mr C, Mia, Melissa and I took a walk in the glow of the setting sun. And here is the sunset photo of the day.

Day 3 (Friday): I love having Mia around because she has so much energy. She is always up for a walk on the beach or an opportunity to go shopping. Steph, Mia and I took a girls walk on the beach in the morning. I took lots of photos of interesting flotsam and other beach stuff. (Clickable to see larger.)

After lunch at a local restaurant, we drove up to Oswald West park, which is Stephanie’s favorite spot on the Oregon coast and now I know why. We hiked down to the beach. which was sheltered and it was so warm, we were able to shed some of our layers. M & M played in the water and climbed rocks. We stayed until it was getting dark.

Day 4 (Saturday) The Barnes family left to go home to their new kitty and to meet up with friends today to cut their Christmas tree. It was our only cloudy, drizzly day. Mr C and I drove to Canon Beach for lunch and to walk around town, but it was chilly and rainy so we came back to Manzanita, where we found a nice sale on shoes and each bought a new pair.

Day 5 (Sunday) We awoke to another beautiful day, and we were able to take a last walk on the beach before we left for a beautiful drive back to Portland. You can see all of my photos on my Flickr site.
It was a wonderful way to spend the long week-end. I think we will do it again. I went internetless and survived. I read The Road by American writer Cormac McCarthy. It is a post-apocalyptic tale describing a journey taken by a father and his young son over a period of several months across a landscape blasted years before by an unnamed cataclysm which destroyed civilization and most life on earth. I read the book in a period of 24 hours. I was riveted by the story, and I am begging Mr C to read it so that I can discuss it with him. If you have read this book, let me know what you think of it.

Posted in Cooking and Recipes, Family, Holidays, Just for Fun, M & M, Travels | 10 Comments »

Giving Thanks

Wednesday, November 21st, 2007

I said I would post today IF I had lost weight. Well, I did – almost 2 pounds. I think I have finally broken through my aggravating plateau. Of course, now there is the groaning board to deal with tomorrow. But, I have that under control. I am cooking lightened recipes, substituting mashed cauliflower for potatoes, using a leaner graham cracker crust and nonfat milk for the pumpkin pie. Lots of 0 points veggies.

Best of all will be the filling of my time with fun and games with M & M and their parents. I will try once again to beat Jack at Scrabble. We will take lots of walks on the beach. We will laugh at silly dvds. We will find time to read books. Food will be so secondary.

Wishing all of my good blogging friends a blessed and safe and happy Thanksgiving Day, if this is a holiday that you celebrate. For the remainder, I hope that you too, will give thanks for your many blessings, along with us.

Posted in Family, Holidays, Just for Fun, Uncategorized | 4 Comments »

Just Another Wacky Wednesday

Wednesday, November 14th, 2007

Let’s get this out of the way right at the top. I lost .2 of a pound today. I really thought it would be more. I guess my sluggish behavior over the week-end didn’t help. Maybe I overdid the lasagna and chocolate fondue. At least it was in the right direction!!

Have you noticed that Marie Osmond is everywhere lately? I get such a kick out of her on Dancing With the Stars. I think she is doing amazingly well. I have fond memories of my girls sitting in front of the TV, watching the Donny and Marie show. They absolutely loved it. I once met Marie at a business convention. Her is the proof:

We were having a contest to see who had the biggest smile!! She obviously won in the eye makeup department. I am guessing that this was about 22 years ago.

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Diane sent me an e-mail with questions to answer. I was to forward it to and copy it to her. Here are the questions and my answers:

*TAG YOU’RE IT!*

If you opened it, you have to do it. Then, send it back to the person who sent it to you and the rest of your friends!

Two names you go by:
1 Gerrie
2. Geraldine, Mom

Two things you are wearing right now:
1. new smaller size black pants
2. sweatshirt screen printed with a dove and peace by Lisa

Two of your favorite things to do:
1. hang out with my grand children
2. do stuff to fabric

Two things you want very badly at the moment:
1. an end to the war in Iraq
2. have a cleaning person

Two favorite pets you have had/have:
1. Maggie our JR
2. AJ, the cat

Two People who will fill this out
1. Terry
2. Judy

Two things you ate today:
1. two slices of Amy’s roasted vegetable pizza with no cheese
2. baked wild halibut

Two people you last talked to:
1. Steve
2. Terry

Two things you’re doing tomorrow:
1.Working on a design for a quilt with a looming deadline
2. Cleaning the kitchen counter where stuff piles up when I am not home

Two longest car rides:
1. Wilmington, NC – Santa Rosa, CA
2. Santa Rosa to the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Las Vegas, and back to Santa Rosa

Two favorite holidays:
1. Thanksgiving
2. Christmas

Two favorite beverages:
1. Sauvignon Blanc wine
2. Pinot Noir wine

The reason I am posting this, is the question — two things you want very badly. Well, obviously, I didn’t get an end to the war in Iraq. You guessed it — Maryama came knocking at my door looking for houses to clean. After some negotiating with Mr C, she will be coming every other week. She spent most of today getting us up to health code. She is coming back tomorrow to do the kitchen. After this, she hopes it will not take as much time. She is extremely thorough.

The thing I like most about a cleaning person is that I am forced to get my stuff organized and put away. Mr C hates that part. And when he did the “cleaning”, I never knew when the bug would hit him so I had a hard time getting my clutter out of the way.

I must end this and settle down for the start of the new season of “Project Runway.” Love, love, love!!

Posted in House and home stuff, Just for Fun, This and that | 4 Comments »

Thanks!

Sunday, November 11th, 2007

Sometimes, I feel so blessed to have old and new friends stopping by my blog to comment, share and give me advice.

I forgot to mention what a chuckle I got out of the traffic light comments about the piece I cut up last week. Now I am wondering if anyone in the crit group saw traffic lights. I have looked at that so many times and never saw a traffic light and now it is haunting me!!

Also, thanks to the new readers who have found me and have made such lovely comments about my work. It means a lot to hear from you.

Thank you for the good wishes to get better this week-end. I think I had a 24 hour virus with swollen glands and general malaise. I began to feel better yesterday afternoon. Mr C took me out to dinner, and I had a miraculous recovery.

Tonight, I made dinner for the family. Here is what is left of the lasagna.

A couple of weeks ago, Steph, Mia and I had a conversation about fondue. Mia thought chocolate fondue sounded pretty good, so tonight, I thought I would surprise her.