Labor Day

Happy Labor Day everyone out there in the States! I hope you're having a peaceful and relaxing day off from your daily grind.

There is a large contingency of people that will not have Labor Day off, however. I would like to personally thank and honor all of those who serve in the United States military here in the states and those overseas in harm's way. They are working 24/7 so protect our freedom and our country. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for what you unselfishly do for us!

God bless you.

Aaron and Christina, I love you!

It's A Major Award!

Don't you just love the movie, The Christmas Story? I don't know how many times througout the year that my husband and I both say together, "It's a major award!". And let's not forget how you pronounce the word fragile. Fra - gee - lee!

Much to my surprise, I did receive an award from Trudy whose blog is Crows In The Attic Primitives. Well, gosh almighty and shucks. You are too kind, Trudy. Just when I think my blog is boring and nobody would want to read it, someone does a kindness that blows me away.

Now the difficult part. I'm supposed to pass on the award to seven other bloggers whose blogs I love to visit. Like all of us, I have my little set of "core" blogs that are must visits if I just have a little time to spare. Then there are the ones that I have linked on my blog and also more on my favorites that I sit down with a cup of tea and visit like family and friends. What I'm saying is that there are too many to choose from. So what I want to do is to have you readers out there tell me if you know of any new bloggers. They are the ones that need to be encouraged and appreciated for joining our little community. Comment on the post and let me know who they are and I will bring them to everyone's attention. Off the top of my head I know of two, Mumzie's Pumpkin Patch and My Maine Cottage. Forgive me if I've forgotten anyone on my links.

Have a safe and restful Labor Day weekend everyone!

Lesson Learned - I Hope

Tell me I'm not the only blogger that does this. I'll check out a blog and then a link and a link from a comment and then another link and before I know it I'm far away in cyber-blogville! Now that is not a bad thing. In fact, I think that it's a great way to find new and interesting blogs to visit. I have found some of my favorite blogs doing this.

My trouble is after I've gone deep into the abyss I'll find something wonderful like a quilt pattern or a recipe or a decorating idea. I'll naively think that I'll for sure remember what blog I saw them on. The quilt pattern - the recipe - the decorating idea. Notice how if you click on those it doesn't take you anywhere? EXACTLY!!!!!! How many times have I done that? I'm too ashamed to say.

My resolve (please, oh please) is to keep a tablet securely attached to my computer, or arm, or leg or whatever it takes, so I can make notes. Then all I have to do is quickly jot down notes and blog names and I'm good to go!

In the future if I do a post begging for any and all information on a particular subject that I saw on a blog that I can't remember, be kind. I'm fragile...........

Cute, cute, cute, cute, cute!!!!!!

We some very special visitors to our house on Saturday! The girls came to visit! Not just any girls! THE girls! Lidia and Ilona!

Lidia and Ilona

Their daddy is Carlos and their mommy is Christine. Carlos has been best friend to our son since second grade, which is nearly 30 years! Aaron was in Carlos' wedding and Carlos was Aaron's best man at his wedding last September. Anytime that Carlos is visiting the area he either stops by or calls us just to say hello. He is the NICEST guy and we consider him part of our family.

Presently they live in Santa Rosa which is a little over two hours drive from here. Sadly for us they are getting ready to move back to New Jersey to be near Christine's family. This is Christine's parent's first grandchildren so it will be great for them. They wanted to stop by and introduce us to the babies before they left. Thankfully, Mommy has set up a blog and I can watch their progress from here. Of course, they have family near by so I'm sure if they are visiting California we'll get a call.

Let me introduce you to the Diaz family: Carlos, Lidia, Christine and Ilona

Carlos and Christine are going to be awesome parents!! Hey, free babysitting anytime you need me!! Now I'm going to get started on their quilts so they can have them for their brand new room in their new home in New Jersey. New Jersey, which is way, way too far away...................

Good luck, guys! We'll miss you. We love you!

Aunty Jean

Train, train, train........

Summer is winding down and this is the last week we will be watching the grandson's before they're back to school. Sweety and I wanted to do something special for them. What to do? None of us have ever ridden a train so we bought tickets and took them on a ride on an Amtrak train. Our trip took us from Modesto to Fresno. We had less than an hour layover and they caught the train back to Modesto. Nothing fancy for sure, but we had fun!

The Modesto Amtrak Station

We're ready to go!

Samuel, the train traveler and all around cutie patooty!


Redmond, the train traveler and budding artist!

The view from the train. We'd like to take this trip next spring when everything is green.

The train was very comfortable with spacious seating. For the San Joaquin lines they don't have sit down dining. They do, however, have a snack bar where you can get sandwiches, pizza, sodas, chips, etc..

There goes our train. There goes summer......

Quilters Get Listed!

Nikki over at Just Us Quilters has come up with a wonderful idea! She has organized a list of quilters who blog (blogging quilters?). If you are interested in quilting and want to list your blog, pop on over. If you just love quilts and want to see some amazing, creative bloggers and, check out the list. Just maybe you'll be inspired to try quilting yourself!

Thanks, Nikki! What a wonderful idea!

New Blogger in Blog Land!!

Please join me in welcoming a new blogger to Blog Land! It's Yvonne from Mumzie's Pumpkin Patch. She retired and loves gardening, quilting and cooking. Wait, what else? She has a Scottish Terrier, Conner like my Maggie!!!!! Wait, there's more? She lives in the same little town in Northern California that I do? Now how utterly perfect is that?

Welcome, Yvonne!!! Maggie and I wish you all the best in Blog Land.

"Mommy! A boy Scotty? Goody, Goody! When do I get to meet him? When, when, when? Do I need to get my hair done? Does this collar make me look fat? I'm so excited Mommy! When, Mommy, when?"

Lavender Hollow Farm

Have you ever happened upon a place that seems like magic? That's the way I felt when I first went to Lavender Hollow Farm. It's a commercial Lavender farm not far from where I live. I found out about it two years ago when I visited a local farmer's market. They had a booth selling their products. Now, I have been know to make a complete fool of myself at times, and this was no exception. "We have a Lavender Farm in Escalon!!!!" This was not said quietly. In fact I think I was jumping up and down at the time. We'll just pretend that never happened.

I went out and visited them and then took my BFF out there for a surprise lunch. She was feeling under the weather and I wanted to treat her to something special. We had the most delightful time. Alice schedules the most wonderful teas but she was booked full. So I packed us a lunch and we ate outside on the picnic tables. Then we got to talking and one thing led to another. Our little quilting group now holds an annual Lavender Luncheon under the trees.

The farm is open from May through the first weekend in July. On a hot afternoon the fragrance wafts throughout the little hollow where the farm sits. It's so relaxing!

I hope you can find your own little piece of heaven on earth where you live. I sure found mine.

Help! Fabric Emergency!!!!

I have an urgent request for help. I have a quilt emergency and am in desperate need of some fabric. I thought I had some left in my stash, but I don't. I need a half to a yard, perferably a yard, of the pictured floral fabric. It has gold running through it which makes me think it's a Hoffman fabric. In fact I'm also in touch with their very helpful customer service department.

Please pass this request onto any and all of your quilting buddies. I will reward whoever helps me with a very generous gift certificate from their favorite on-line quilt shop.



Thank you ever so much!!!!

A Day (or two) Late

This was supposed to be a Pink Saturday post but we'll just have to call it a Pink Post.

This past Saturday just as I was working on my post I got a call from Becky. We hopped in her car and went antiquing. She got a few nice things and I got a lovely old vintage quilt for my guestroom bed. Sunday when I tried to take some more pictures my battery gave out. I had to charge it and then I got involved in cleaning. Yuck! Finally, here it is. A couple days late and a few dollars short.

These were garage sale and flea market finds. Lucky me!

The pink scotty in the middle was a great find from one of our Monterey trips. I think I'll call her Pinky!

This is in my bathroom. Hopefully my photo will enlarge so you can see the great hand quilting on the little wall quilt. I picked it up at a local quilt show. The cup and saucer on the right belonged to my great grandmother. It's a very fine, transluscent china. Love it!

I collect pink transferware and cranberry glass.

I got this adorable little planter from Tina at Cherry Hill Cottage a while back.

I'm trying to get my pantry organized. Yes, those are pink frying pans! They were made by Kitchenaide and a portion of the proceeds go to breast cancer research. Awesome. I buy all the products that contribute to cancer research that I can.

Have a blessed day!

Hey Sweetie! Happy Anniversary!!!

Today my husband and I are celebrating our anniversary. Not just any old anniversary, mind you. It's our fortieth! You read it right. 40!!! Woo Hoo!!!! We've been blessed with two children, two grandchildren and a wonderful new daughter-in-law. Life hasn't always been easy. I don't think it's that way for anyone, really. There are always highs and lows to any one's life. But I wouldn't travel down this road with anyone else than you, Sweetie.

I love you!