Monday

Good thoughts for all the east coast folks.  We are sometimes the rain city, but today for a few minutes we had blue sky and sunshine.  Hurrah.  I guess they got it all.

I just read the title of Friday's blog entry.  Some people ought to spell check, shouldn't they?

Saturday was a volleyball game for the oldest granddaughter.  She has improved greatly,

Not sure why this is so dark - she scored on all her serves in game 3.

They lost 2 games to 1, but all were in good spirits and ready to work more on their skills.

Some walking and enjoying the rain breaks on Sunday and today.  Got a cover on the patio furniture, although it needed to be weighted down with a couple of bricks.  There was so much wind!

Spent quite a bit of time today working on my free-motion quilting.  I'm just not very good, coupled with a machine that doesn't always cooperate.  And of course, I cannot locate my machine manual anywhere.  Does that ever happen to you?  I have turned over piles, searched the book shelves, looked in boxes - NOTHING.  So finally called Pfaff today and asked about getting another copy of the manual.  They were very nice and said they would send it online.  That was at 11am this morning (after Jazzercise - what a good girl!).  It arrived on my computer at 7:48pm.  Now why did that take all day long to get here?  I don't get it.  But now I have a copy online and can look up their instructions for quilting.  Now to order myself some thread.  [I consulted with quilting friend Cathy about exactly which thread she uses.  I had some of the right type even if it was the wrong colors.]

So free-motion quilting practice,

Also added a border on a table runner

[hand work in front of the TV]
And piecing color blocks into 4 blocks.  Not yet sure what happens next - i.e. how they will be assembled.  Yet to come.

I've finished the reds, blues, oranges and browns.  Working on the greens.  Trying to keep out of troubles, don't ya know.

Firday in the kitchen

In my effort to have some free time for some sewing today, I got busy last night and cooked.  I made Snert - erwtensoep.  (that's the Dutch)  You know it as split pea soup.  Yummy.

dried peas, onions, leeks, carrots and some ham.  The original calls for celery, but I didn't have any, so celery salt had to do.  Should be good.

And then using a King Arthur mix that I had, I made stollen.  The package makes 2 loaves.  We enjoyed some this morning for breakfast.  This is normally a Christmas bread, but we are just anticipating what's ahead.  Quite nice.  Particularly because I'm not a big citron - candied fruit - person,  I added raisins, craisins, dried cherries, apricots and pineapple.  They were all soaked in a vanilla syrup, then added as required.  (3 lbs!) A couple of raises and then bake.

Now to the sewing room and then off to the volleyball.

Such a "sad" Thursday

Thursday was the day to empty the motorhome and get her ready to be put away for the winter.  Such a sad day.  Not only is our camping season really over, our great traveling adventures must go on  hiatus for a few months.  Waaaaaaah!  I know that I had thought for many years that I wanted to own and travel in a motorhome.  It finally came true 10 years ago and I think I can honestly say that I have really, really loved it.  It was all I wanted and even more [except for the water leak problems, but they are a thing of the PAST!]  But now it's time to put on my "big girl panties" and admit that winter will be coming, perhaps soon.  Alas.

She looks pretty bare - and the basement/garage are looking fairly full.  :-)

Today was my CTA Sew Thoughtful day.  We were making tote bags for foster children.  I think we actually completed about a dozen with several more going with folks to be finished up at home.

We also had about 5 newcombers who helped, as well.  These are always open to anyone in the community who enjoys sewing - so perhaps you can come along if you live in and around Snohomish County.

Tomorrow the oldest grand (12) has a volleyball game, so tonight I've made a pot of pea soup and two loaves of stollen.  Photos tomorrow.

Following along at the ocean

We did survive but what an amazing amount of weather.  I think we had one of every season, with rain, wind, snow/hail and even some sunshine.  So here are a few photos,

While not the balmiest of weather, it really was OK the first couple of days,

Anderson's RV Park is a very nice park.  One of our favorite places to stay.  They even wrote us a "thank you" note after we arrived home - how often does that happen?

We were cozy in the clubhouse but enjoyed our banana splits on Saturday night,

Monday was the church women's dinner.  A great monthly soup, salad and bread gathering and we talked about Befrienders.  Today was an outing with my sweet grandson,

Grandma promised him several months ago that we would have a train outing.  So today it was it - we took the bus to downtown, wandered through the International District

and ended up at Uwajimaya (sp?) and had a great wander around looking at all the different things.  Then we headed to catch the Sounder Light Rail train for an hour's ride north.

Oakie met us in Everett and we had some dinner before heading home.  It really was a great day!

Here are a couple of catch up items I forgot to post previously:

Recent acquisitions from the Goodwill - I think I spent a total of about $6.00 for about 4 yards of fabric,

While out at Long Beach we visited the Sportsmen's Cannery for select Albacore Tuna - we chose the one seasoned with dill.

There is no more of the cranberry nut fudge left to show you.  :-(

Today I discovered a new source for Indonesian seasonings.  Yeah!

Who says that retirement is dull?

Rain, rain, wind and then more rain

We are on the Long Beach Peninsula (check a Washington map).  It's is definitely autumn down here.  Lots of weather, but as none of us melt, we are all surviving.  Glad we aren't in a tent.  Photos to follow.

Tidbits from Tuesday

Oh so silly to make up names for a blogpost.  Well, here we are on Tuesday.  Saturday (a couple of days ago) my 9 y.o. grandson had a soccer game.  It rained really hard at the start and we all thought "oh dear, this won't be pleasant" but it did stop after about 20 minutes.  Thank goodness.

They are so clean and tidy before the game.

On Sunday I began a quilt I had seen in a magazine.  I will have to go look for the woman's name who was the designer, but I loved it as soon as I saw it and knew it would be a PERFECT use of a large variety of asian fabrics I had.  [Caro - do you have doggy fabrics left?]  This would be a great use of any particular themed fabrics.  Animals?  Kids?  Sports?

Finished the top, sans border, this afternoon.  Black border to go around.  It will be a very nice lap-sized quilt.

I also finished a Christmas gift for friends.  Actually they will not even be at home for the holidays this year, but it's done for another year.   Per Caro's suggestion, I used green binding.

This was so easy and a fantastic way to use up small pieces of left-over fabric.

This week-end is our last RV outing.  So this afternoon we did a bit of shopping for items for this event, at Long Beach, WA.  Taco fixings and ice cream sundae toppings.  We've still to get some breakfast muffins and the ice cream will be a last minute purchase.  Fingers crossed that the rains will hold off.

The grays are returning

We have had such a marvelous long run of GREAT weather, but it is now coming to a close.  It was quite gray and cloudy this morning [although it did clear sometime after 2pm].  This morning we went for a wonderful walk across two small islands in Lake Washington (behind the University of Washington).

So enjoy the outlook,

Isn't this great?  Wish I was a writer and could describe this. 

Husky stadium (south stands - on the left) are almost totally rebuilt now.

We continued across the islands and into the Washington Park Arboretum

Saturday Report

We were out of town last week-end, thus no posting from Casa Nana for a while.  We had a very pleasant outing to Orcas Island (in the San Juan Islands).  I had never been there, so it was great exploring and learning about Orcas.  So, a few photos:

Doe Bay Resort - a bit run down, but fun

Blakely Island across Doe Bay

Atop Mt. Constitution (2400 ft) view out to Puget Sound

Coming down Mt. C - looking toward San Juan Island

Sea Stars

Early morning - Doe Bay

I have also been doing a few sewing type projects, so I can share those.  My sewing room is a mess, but I am finishing a few things.  Hurrah.

CTA Christmas project for a foster children's program - we make and stuff Christmas stockings and this year, we're doing a fleece hat to include, as well.

CTA also makes small quilts for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Providence Hospital, Everett.  We had a sewing day a couple of weeks ago where I almost finished one - brought it home to complete and two more kits.

Using up those bits and pieces and making bags for wine or for similar sized bottles,

And finally here's another "use it up" project.  I have visualized this for some time and decided that I thought it would be fun.  I'm quite excited because I think it meets the cute requirement - As of last night I had finished 10 strips - about 8-10 more to go,

Now to choose red or green binding.  [Who has too many Christmas scraps?]