Food For Thought ....

Someone asked me these two questions ....

1. If you could live any where in the world where where would that be?

Answer: After a few moments of thought I said "right where I am," there's no place like home. Just ask Dorothy Gale

2. If you could do one thing to make a huge impact in the world what would it be.

Mahatma Gandhi said it well ... 

What are your answers??

The First Ladies are Coming Together!!

I took advantage of the quiet day and worked on setting the pieced blocks of my First Ladies Quilt. So far so good, I love the fabrics I have chosen up to this stage of my progress!

The blocks with the points belong to Dolley Payne Todd Madison, the companion block is that of Mary Todd Lincoln (they are not related.)

A bit of history about these two First ladies that helped form our country ...

Dolley Payne married John Todd, an attorney in 1790.  Three years later Dolley would become a widow. In time she would marry James Madison, 17 years her senior. In 1814 Dolley would become an American hero by rescuing the portrait of George Washington, the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence moments ahead of the British setting fire to her home the "White House."

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Mary Todd would marry Abraham Lincoln in 1842. Known as one of the "worst" First Ladies of the White House due to her elaborate spending and serious debt. She suffered from erratic behavior and hysteria but was also known as an intelligent and compassionate woman who was deeply involved in the Emancipation Proclamation to free the slaves. Tragedy struck Mary four times. Losing three of her four sons to death as well as the death of her beloved Abe. 

The corner blocks are called the Double T. Sometime referred to as the "Temperance" block.

The Double T block was inspired by Lucy Webb Hayes, wife of President Rutherford B. Hayes. Lucy was the first, First Lady to receive a degree in higher education. Nicknamed "Lemonade Lucy" by the press because she did not allow alcohol to be served in the White House and neither she nor President Hayes consumed the beverage. Lucy was very involved in her husbands political career and Rutherford was known to listen to her advice. Lucy would give birth to eight children, three would die in their infancy. The Temperance Block is so suitable for First Lady Hayes.

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Along with the First Ladies quilt I have also been busy on a few smaller projects!

The back of a cute little wall hanging. This has been done for a dear friend as a birthday gift!

And here is the front! Love this little quilt and the color combination. I purchased it as a kit while at the Road to California.

 This morning, while my sewing room was cool I cut the necessary fabrics for my upcoming class. I also finished off my proto type ....

I attached this little flag tag to the back of my quilt sample ....

The front of the checker game board quilt!

I hope to continue on with the First Ladies Quilt tomorrow ... Wish me luck!

Pre-Birthday Celebration!!

What a wonderful day. My baby girl, hehe, almost 36 years old has a birthday coming up in 10 days. Between her out of town work schedule and my visit to Ohio coming up this was the day we chose the have our day together to celebrate. What a great day it was in spite of the heat and humidity!

Our day began with 10:00 am pedicures at the Golden Dragon Nail Spa!

Her first gift of the day was a blinged out Starbucks Cup ...

 

Life is so good, an iced coffee and a pedicure!

Our next stop was lunch at Tiffany's favorite place, Alicia's in Brea. 

This is one of the jewels to be found in Brea. Healthy and so delicious! Yummmmmmmy ...

Once our tummy's were full I took her for a foot and body massage at the HealthWise Center. If you have one of these Asian operated businesses in your area you need to GO!! It is awesome and so affordable.

She's done and feeling fine! We were taken into a private room and for one hour we are massaged, pushed and pulled from the top of our heads to the tips of our toes! Just plain awesome is all I can say.

My legs felt like rubber bands as we walked out the door. What to do what to do ... Oh, I have the best idea to help with drowsiness .... SUGAR!!

Crepes de Paris, an adorable little crepery in downtown Brea ...

All the little tables have these cute table cloths, love them

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TaDa the Crepe Royal ... Nutella, fresh strawberries, bananas and creme fresh. OMG, these are to die for. This is a split order ... yep, both of those plates are to feed one person!

OK, we've been massaged, polished, eaten too much and now ....

Right back where we started from, Starbucks~

 After a quick refreshment we headed for home.

These presents were making her crazy, so after much discussion she decided to open 3 and save 2 for after her birthday!

Our favorite wine and a fabulous wine glass, even the monkey on the card is having a little bubbly!

Happy Birthday sweetie, I love you lots ....

Can you Feel it?? Can you See it??

Can I feel it?? No, not yet .... it's HOT and muggy, those long, lazy dog days of summer are here and in all their blazing hot glory! However, I am beginning to see it. Yep, those beautiful and oh so colorful days of fall are beginning to sneak into the California landscape. 

Fall is my absolute favorite time of the year so when the first little signs emerge I am quick to notice and point them out. In the last few days I have begun to notice the leaves of the maple trees on my street are beginning to change color! I pointed to them and squealed "look, their changing color" and almost gave my husband a heart attack!

I know, I know, it's hard to see but those leaves in the top right corner a turning orange! Yes they are!

SEE, I told you so!!

Love the little red spots on the leaves ... the morning sun streaming through the trees is so beautiful ...

 Since losing my job three years ago I have really begun to appreciate the tiny things that nature provides and so easily go un-noticed ... like spots on leaves for example. Except for aches and pains I am enjoying this peaceful time in my life. God has blessed our world with so many treasure that so easily go unappreciated.

Another tiny sign of fall has turned up in my front yard planter ....

 They are not easy to see but these mum plants are covered in tiny buds ready to burst open in a few weeks. Some of the early buds are popping open now but there must be 100's of them beginning to form for a colorful future. See the things I have time to notice! Love it!!

 

 And finally, I have been keeping my eye on a few trees producing fruit at the local junior college parking lot! In spite of the incredible heat, ants, and spiders these are the fruits of my labor.

A couple fall treasures ...

Pomegranates!! Aren't they beautiful ... I love to let them dry and use them through the fall and winter for bowl and basket fillers.

Keep your eyes peeled for your own sneak peeks of fall coming to your community!

 

Game Night ... and a Box ....

My grand kiddies rolled into town last week for a back to school dental visit. When they are here they love to play game night with their Aunt Tiffany and Uncle Shawn. Auntie brought her card game Skipo ...

It's Austin's play and he's sorting out his hand of cards ....

Because Alexia, the youngest, was such a good girl at the dentist and Grandma is a softie, I got her the Pop Up Princess Castle Game ... She and mommy were playing this game, well sorta, Lexi has her own style of game playing! They were on the floor next to the Skipo competition.

And daddy, well he's enjoying a quiet game of solitaire on the kids I Pad. Mr. Taylor, my hubby is on the other couch playing another game on his IPOD. Grandma, well, I'm the photographer and Skipo coach!

21st Century "family" game night .... four games at once. Hummmm, not what I remember as a kid ....

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I received a box today while I was out struggling through the 100 degree heat. I thought it was a box of paperwork so I didn't get too excited. Well, tonight while watching the Angels Baseball game I decided to open to box. Oh Boy!! So excited. It's a doll I ordered from Bay Ray's Child, Audrey Baker. She is ADORABLE in a homely sorta way.

An opened box reveals this is NOT boring paper work!

Thank you Audrey for sharing your God given talents with us mere mortals ....

She's out!! I love her ... how is the name Becca? I have used her dress fabrics in some of my Civil War era quilts!

A closer look at the details, her little eyes are so expressive. She has a story to tell, I will listen carefully until I can hear it.

Becca sitting patiently in her new red chair ...

 She is just so precious! If you would like your very own Becca go to 1840 Living BlogSpot.com and check them out!

Another Special Birthday Celebration!!

I love birthdays, always have. I have one of the best families and the greatest group of friends a girl could ever have.

Friday, a long time friend of mine picked me up and whisked me off to Paris for a birthday tea!! Well .... not exactly Paris but it was pretty darned close. We arrived in the historical district of Orange, CA. and pulled in front of this adorable shop.

Welcome to Paris in a Cup Teal Salon ... feels just like the real thing!!

 We were a few minutes early so we settled into one of these cute little tables. By the time the shop opened there were at least 10 guests ready for tea!! Soon we were seated in the tea salon ... so impressive.

    

This little salon was so peaceful and lovely. When we left, it was completely full!!

My hostess Debbie and myself ...

Our first course was tea (of course) with a warm vanilla cream scone and a coconut scone with creme fresh and jam. So yummy. I chose a hot cinnamon, spice tea that was just the best ever. The second course was potato soup made with real cream, so yummy, and three tea sandwiches ....

And finally an awesome creme brule' this was the absolute best tea shop ever ... just like I imagine it would be in Paris!

A basket filled with so many goodies ... gift cards, fabrics, patterns and even a bottle of my favorite wine, Moscato!

Thanks to all of you for another wonderful birthday of celebrations!!

 

Rest in peace Miss Austen ....

Today, July 18, 2014 marks the 248th anniversary of the death of Miss Jane Austen beloved author. As with many artist she was not recognized for her genius until after her death. Such a sad think to be sure, she brought so much to the world in sharing a young woman's perspective on 17th century England.

Passed July 18th 1817, age 41 ... far to young.

Patiently Waiting ....

My grand kids came in very late last night. They need to see the dentist and my son is attached to the dentist here so down they came. Their parents assured them if they were good for the dentist they could take a trip to Toys R Us. 

The 5 year old has no concept of time or waiting but after repeatedly asking she soon figured out that the dentist was first!

It's 10 am, the dental appointment is 2 pm ... she is patiently waiting at the front door  ....

Dear Jane ....

As I continue to pursue my dream of creating my own Dear Jane quilt I have begun to realize why so many creators of this amazing quilt also journal their own personal journey. I spent at least four hours Sunday making a log cabin style block. The pieces are tiny making the challenge of no written instructions that much more difficult. As I quilted in the quiet of my sewing room I found myself pondering on Jane Stickel. She had no pattern, she created it herself. She didn't have fancy sewing sheers to cut her worn out fabrics or even a sewing machine to piece the blocks. Instead of griping I began to really marvel at her genius. I have no plans of journaling my quest, however, I will share my journey with you from time to time. 

Here are the most recent blocks ... the brown one was the 4 hour challenge!

Today I completed block # 11 ... that center piece was my challenge for the day, EEKS!

 To keep my self sane I take breaks from my Dear Jane and work on my "First Ladies" quilt designed by Eleanor Burns. This is my first Burns project and she definitely has her own way of doing things!! Following her very detailed instructions has been a challenge in itself. One thing I learned early on with quilting, there is more then one way to cut out a block!! So here are a few of the First Ladies.

The top block is inspired by Louise Hayes. I have chosen to use my Orchard House fabrics designed by Jeanne Horton of the Country Sampler Quilt Shop. I love the "worn and loved" look Jeanne is famous for.

This is the block I finished today. The Dolly Madison Star. Next on the list ... Mary Todd Lincoln...

Flipity Flopity ....

I think my mom wore "flip-flops",zorries, thongs or what ever the trendy name was at the time for a rubber soled shoe with a rubber gizmo between the toes my whole life. At least when she was not at work or church. I can remember going to Sprouse-Ritz or Woolworth's and she would by them for 10 cents a pair!! By the end of summer she would have a tanned flip flop on her foot. As a kid her parents made her wear big, clunky orthodic shoes due to her flat feet. So when left on her own to choose her casual footwear it was the fabulous rubber Zorrie.

Most recently I was in the dollar store and they had filled a wall with an array of Americana Flip Flops. Oh my, I thought Mom would be so excited to see all of these choices. In her honor I bought a pair. Within days I decided this would be the perfect time to pay homage to her memory with a flip flop craft class!

I had 10 ladies attend and they had the best time chatting and tying torn pieces of fabrics to the straps of their shoes.

Along with crafting I hosted a Longaberger party as well as celebrated a customers birthday. It was quite a busy, busy day.

July is the time we celebrate breast cancer awareness in the Longaberger Co. so that was the primary focus of the presentation ....

Before everyone left a few of the gals stayed for a quick photo with the birthday girl. My little 94 year old Jewel came to join us as well. She is such a trooper.

And finally a group shot of some completed shoes. 

 

 As I was posting these pictures one of my kids memories of my moms flip flops came to mind. When she would babysit for me she would stay at our house with the kids. When they were supposed to be asleep ... but weren't, they always new when she was coming in to check on them so they could fake they were asleep. How did they know?? By the sound of her zorries making, as they would say a "flipity flopity noise."

I hope your summer is filled with wonderful memory making moments ....

Plaaaaaayy Balllll!

It's summer time in the northern hemisphere and Brazil is a buzz with the World Cup Soccer matches!

Here in the good ole USA summer time is all about baseball, hot dogs, watermelons and trips to the beaches. Last night my long time friend Paula and her hubby Darrell joined the newly weds and myself for a game of Angels Baseball! 

 The weather has been hot and humid but their is nothing like an evening at the baseball park. The cool breezes were blowing the Straw-ber-Rita's were icy cold and all was well with the world.

Darrell and Paula enjoying the game ...

The Angels have taken the field and are ready to plaaaaay baaaallll!

Ahhh, a crisp, cold, yummy drink ..

Tiffany and Shawn wearing their "Allen" shirts. There is a hidden code here ... 44 - 14, can you guess what it is?? Give up? Their wedding date is April (4) 4th 2014 ... very clever isn't it!

I have a very sleepy rally monkey, he's all tucked in for the night ...

Tiffany and Shawn shouldering their monkeys so the little guys can watch the game! Such a great night with family and friends ... Go Angels!