It really doesn't take much to make me happy!

My last blog post was on April 27th and I had very good intentions of writing/updating more often, but on May 11th I had an accident and injured my right-hand index finger. Since then, I've done almost nothing of any consequence since the use of my finger has been very limited... and still is. However, I've finally healed enough to start Physical Therapy and they tell me that in about 2 months time, I should have a fully functioning finger again! Yippee! I'm truly grateful that my injury was not worse than it was, because it easily could have been. I'm lucky! I do miss knitting and quilting though!

Today I'm thrilled because we had two Queen Palms planted in our backyard border. It's something I've wanted to have done for the last 10 years. This is what the back border looks like today.

I've got some 1 gallon-size plants that I want to plant in between and around the Palms but I won't get to that for awhile.

This is how it looked before today. Big, big difference as you can see!

I'm so happy!

Take care,








I started 2017 with UFO projects: 32
I have found (buried in my sewing room and elsewhere in the house) YTD: 0
I have started YTD: 1 ongoing project (composed of 34 units as of 4/5/17)
I have given away UFO projects YTD: 0
I have thrown out or otherwise dismantled YTD: -2
I have sold unfinished UFO projects YTD: 0
I have finished YTD: -1 "finished-for-now" project (composed of 41 units as of 4/27/17)
I have finished YTD: -1
Projects remaining YTD: 29

Apple time!

Every year we get in the car and make the trek up the coast to See Canyon where we purchase "fresh from the tree" apples. I wish we could actually pick them, but that's not an option. We love the variety called Splendour and have found only one place that grows them. They don't always have prolific quantities of them, so when we are notified that they have them, we go now!!

Saturday was a fun day... 102 degrees in Buellton as we were passing through, but thankfully the a/c in our car works great! The day was warm and and the skies were beautiful as was the clear, blue ocean along the coastal part of the trip.

We stopped at only one fabric/quilt shop along the way, as I had a very specific fabric in mind that I was trying to find and knew some of the shops just wouldn't have what I was looking for. I accomplished my mission and found the background for the embroidery blocks in this quilt!

Take care,

You gotta see this...

My sis sent this to me yesterday because it reminds her of my nephew. He l-o-v-e-s Star Wars!! It reminds me a bit of him too...he's a little character. I can totally see him doing this.

Regardless, you have to watch it...



...it's HILARIOUS!!

Take care,

Charms squares are sew fun!

Since my niece told me she's started sewing lessons and a quilt in particular, I've been cutting charm squares to send to her. She's already made a tote bag and a pillowcase and her quilt is halfway done.

I'm so thrilled that she seems to love sewing already and I'm thrilled that my sister thinks it's important that she has the opportunity to learn. I think my sister is a wonderful mom to her two children.

We're having absolutely wonderful weather here - very "summer like" with temps in the high 70's and low 80's. I even managed to do a bit of pruning in the garden today since it is so nice out.

What will our weather be like tomorrow?

This was what the beach looked like yesterday afternoon around 1pm or so. Beautifully clear, gorgeous water color, and 72 degrees! Amazing. And I was almost the only one there. It was so nice since this area is super crowded during the summer months.

Right now, it's windy, cold and raining so I'm wondering what it will be like tomorrow.

I was also playing around with my camera a bit today. Trying to get some good bokeh.

Christmas tree lights always provide a good opportunity! 

Nothing crafty to report.

I've not been doing any crafting/sewing/quilting for awhile now. Just getting ready for the holidays ahead.

I do need to get photos of my "Trip Around the World" quilt taken which has been finished now for about three/four weeks. It's in the back of my car because I'm just sure that while I'm out there driving around I will come across the perfect place to photograph it. The only trouble is....I only seem to remember it is in the back of the car when I pull into the garage after being out. -sigh- Wonder if I'll ever remember? :)

We are having some really wonderful weather - still very fall-like, which I am simply loving! The trees are glorious in all their color and there definitely needs to be some raking done. Do you think anyone in So Cal owns a rake? Does anyone in So Cal even know what a rake is?

Enamored...

I'm still enjoying our "fall" color and the gorgeous leaves on the trees...

...and those that have fallen.

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend. We planned on attending Long Beach Swap Meet tomorrow, but rain is in the forecast, so we'll just have to wait and see.

I've been playing...

around with Photoshop Elements. I'm still a firm believer that the best option is to take photos that are as perfect as you can get them in the camera. But, I do have to admit that it's fun to be a little creative with PSE.

Oh, I received my "Trip" quilt back from the quilters and now will be adding the binding. I'm really loving it and think it will get tons of use this Fall season. Photos to come soon, I promise!

Anybody else having problems "previewing" your post with blogger? Ever since I changed my template it hasn't worked properly. I keep thinking blogger will fix the problem but maybe I'm being a bit optimistic.

It's been a fun week...

We took a little drive up the coast this last week and had lots of fun along the way. We stopped at wineries, pumpkin stands, and farmer's markets, picked apples, ate cotton candy, watched sea lions, drove in fog that was so thick we couldn't see the car ahead of us, sent postcards, ate apple pie a la mode, fish and chips, and the best spaghetini with marinara sauce I've ever had, took pictures, picked and ate wild blackberries, bought taffy, Snaps, and winged gourds, and drove the most beautiful country roads and charming city streets.

We had a wonderful time.

Doodling...

I know you've seen all kinds of gorgeous "Zentangles" out there in blogland and I have too. Two of my good friends (Diane and Terri) do such excellent work that I hesitate to even show mine. Of course, I would never dare to call mine "Zentangles"...they are merely doodles.

I had a good time when I did these. It's a bit like quilting in the sense that you really lose yourself in what you are doing. It's almost as good as therapy and it's very relaxing. As you can see I didn't use special paper or special pens (as most do)...I just grabbed what I had handy. I'm sure I'll do more of these because they are fun.

I am grateful...

Sometimes I have to remind myself of how lucky I am to live in such a gorgeous area. I tend to take it for granted since I've been here so long and have seen most of it many times before. But it really does change... every day, every month, and every year with every change in the weather and with every season.

Even a trip to the doctor's office for an annual visit delights me with it's lovely views along the way.

I hope you take the time to appreciate where you are.

Here's a different view...

After visiting a very dear friend in the hospital (he just had triple-bypass surgery), we took his wife and visited the new spot we discovered just a few weeks ago.

It was a lovely, warm but not too hot day and we had a leisurely lunch before embarking on our little walk. My DH asked me why I was taking more photos since I had already taken them on our previous trip. What a funny question. This was a different trip with different opportunities and besides, I love taking photographs and practicing.

This photo is taken as we were approaching the entrance to the walking bridge. Yes, it is for walking - no cars allowed - and it's wonderful!

Look at the Bougainvillea....this is one of the most gorgeous plants I've seen. Wish it would grow this way in my yard! :)



We spent about three hours here....eating lunch and then wandering the pathways. It was so peaceful and refreshing. Finally, a cold breeze starting blowing and chased us into the car. Love those Sunday drives/discoveries.

A new place to visit...

on our Sunday drives. This was totally unexpected and a wonderful surprise. We found one of our favorite restaurants had opened at a new location and once inside we realized it was sitting right on the water! You certainly can't tell that from the front of the restaurant. Anyway, it was lovely and warm so we took a little stroll after lunch.

This next photo was taken looking from the bridge seen in the last photo.

One of these days we're going to rent one of these little "dinner" boats and cruise the harbor while we enjoy a meal. Doesn't that sound like a lot of fun?

I especially loved the Palm trees that lined both sides of this walkway. So peaceful and green!

We'll definitely go back to this restaurant and take this gorgeous walk every time. I just love discovering new places that are actually right around the corner from us.

I'm still alive...

That's in answer to my friend Sally's inquiry. I have company and we're staying really busy going to the beach, barbequeing, hiking, shopping, watching movies, swimming, eating, running through sprinklers, playing basketball, and lots more!

Hope you're having fun too!

OMG!

I think these peonies are the most gorgeous ones I've seen in real life. They are stunning and about 5-6" across.

And I found them at the supermarket. Can you believe it?

Life is hectic right now as I'm preparing for company. Sometimes I just need that kind of motivation to get things done. :)

Tomorrow is the first day of summer! It looks like it might be a great one this year. At least I'll keep my fingers crossed. It doesn't have to be too hot, but a little sunshine each day would be nice.

Cherry-picking time...

They are all washed and in the refrigerator. Fresh cherries right off the trees. And, man oh man, are they good! The cherries you get in the market just cannot compare.

Ladders are provided, but hardly ever needed. My hubby is tall and there are millions of cherries within reaching distance anyway.

We wear our oldest and crummiest clothing since there is usually some cherry juice that finds it's way onto clothing and/or shoes. :) And, plenty that goes right into the mouth. We always make ourselves sick with cherries before we are even done picking.

Apparently all of the orchards lost a lot of cherries to a late frost this year. In fact, some of the orchards have not even opened yet, which is highly unusual. The end of May is the normal time for cherry picking for us, but not this year.  Everybody's weather is weird this year, right?

It was an absolutely gorgeous day today. About 72 degrees with a slight breeze, which is just perfect because some years have been scorchingly hot. Plus, we've been having our usual June gloom and where we go for cherries it's far enough away from the coast to have sunshine. Yippee!

By the time we were finished, we had picked 30 lbs of cherries. And, they'll be gone within the week. Once a year - what a treat! Hubby and I have been doing this now for 18 years!