So Many Roads

My daughter, Steph, and her family came to visit for their weekend (Thurs and Fri).  I had to work late on Thurs, but we still managed to get to the local sushi restaurant for a treat.  Later Steph and I attended the local quilter’s guild who featured a guest speaker from Boston.  It was an interesting evening.

Friday we deiced to go to our local Maturango Museum.  The kids enjoyed the inside displays — local wild life and geological stuff.  I think their favorite was putting their hand into special openings to see if they could guess what they felt.  Then you could open the drawer and see if you were right.  They LOVED that!  But outside was the biggest hit.  They have a desert garden, a human sun dial and a labrynth!  We had the best time (although it was 107!) out there:

Ringing the old school bell:

Telling time:

Sitting on the seat of knowledge:

And the labyrinth:

And doesn’t look like they had a great time!?

Remember that old Queen song “Fat Bottomed Girls”?  Well today I thought of it.  And I’ll tell you why.

As you know, I’ve started quilting.  And let me tell you I really love working with fabric again.  Today I decided to stop by my favorite quilt shop and pick up some new blades for my rotary cutter.  Now, it’s always a bit of a challenge to go into the shop and only get what I went in for.  I generally walk out with something I hadn’t planned on, and today was no exception.  The quilt shop had just gotten in a “series” of whimsical fabrics – and with a sea-side theme to boot.  The theme features “women of a certain age”, viewed from the back in swimsuits.  And the swimsuits are fruits.  Sounds strange, I know.  But I fell in love with them and decided they’d be perfect for a tote.  So I bought the fabric and the pattern (and yes, I didn’t forget my blades).  I’m now hard at work on my new tote.  But it’s going to be a few days before I get it finished and I just have to share this fabric with you.  I am leaving the photo large so you can better appreciate it!

“Fat bottomed girls you make the rockin’ world go round” (lyrics from the Queen song).

Tags: Fabric

Today’s post is serving two purposes.  First as my Skywatch Friday post – it’s been a l-o-n-g time since I participated in that event.  Secondly, it is also an August Break post.  Click on the two links to see other participants in both events.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Tags: August Break, SkyWatch Friday

Well, what can you say.  My days are flying by and yet I seem to be standing still!  How is this possible?  Still working 12-14 hours a day, but I’ve started coming home during lunch and taking a nap.  Gives me the strength to see the afternoons thru!  And last night we had severe weather warnings  - hot temps and lots of thunderstorms, complete with lightening.  So unusual for us here in the desert.  It’s hot again today and this evening I came home to a broken air conditioner.  The call is in for a repair, but who knows when that will happen.  Luckily we also have a swamp cooler (evaporative cooler) which should be able to keep the house to around 80.  With fans I am hopeful for a good nights sleep.

The other day I went to the grocery store.  As I was leaving I notice a man crossing the parking lot (he’d come from the little shop at the gas station) and he was carrying a bottle of juice to drink.  Now I thought it was strange that he’d go to the gas station shop and not the grocery store where things are less expensive, but oh well.  We all do things a little differently – right?  Well imagine my surprise when I saw him join his friend, mount a horse and ride off into the housing development!

If you haven’t done so yet, or in a while, visit other participants of August Break here.

Tags: California, Desert

Tomorrow is the last day of my beginners quilting class.  I was a week behind, so I have been playing catch up tonight.  My project is going to be a wall hanging and I think I chose beautiful batiks in blues and greens.  My boarder (and the backing) has geckos.  The photo doesn’t do the colors justice, but at least you’ll get an idea of what I’ve been up to.  And yes, it is FULL of mistakes.  But isn’t that what learning is all about?  (If you haven’t done so yet, or in a while, visit other participants of August Break here.)

Tags: August Break, quilting