No Problems

I'm assuming you've found the "new blog".  Things are busy at Casa Nan.

Blogging change

This won't allow me to post any photos.  So I have a new blog:

CasaNanaQuilts.blogspot.com

You can find me over there.  Come on down.

Sunday Field Trip

After church today, we joined two good friends and went on a field trip.  Our first stop was the Northwest Wood Gallery.  The most gorgeous things all hand made of wood.  In fact, this month they are having a box and container competition.  Check it out online.  But here are a few of the amazing things we saw,

Approx. 7" x 12", with compartments inside

Small dining table

Inlay on the chair back, to go with the table above

Fishlips bowl

Lovely cabinet, approx. 4 1/2 ft. tall

It really was so impressive.  All this gorgeous work.  You could only just run your hands over the satin finish on each piece.

Table, approx. 4' in diameter

Inlay on a cabinet face

cardinals

Quail family

I really know nothing about wood working, but gosh it was so lovely.  It was grand to be able to wander around all these beautiful wood products.

Our next stop on our journey was the crumpet shop, for a crumpet and a cup of tea.  Mine was ricotta and lemon curd.  In our group we also had one strawberry jam topping, one almond butter and honey and peanut butter and blackberry jam.  Do you remember this place Caro?

Then it was on to the Pike Place Market.

Fresh pasta for sale - even chocolate pasta

Pasta shop's partner, with amazing vinegars and oils

One of several fish stalls

We had a wonderful time wandering and looking.  In the end we chose our dinner of: fresh halibut, lemon basil pasta and steamed spinach with balsamic vinegar.  Oh so amazingly good.

And here are the intrepid shoppers,

We all decided that it was such fun, we will definitely do it again!

Sandy blocks done

If you noticed the little Sandy icon on the right side, I have committed to helping to make some quilt blocks that will be assembled and sent on to folks in the eastern U.S. blasted by Sandy.  It is really easy and feels like I can help out a bit, this way.  (who among us doesn't have more than a few scrap strips?)  I started with making 4 blocks and will send those off to the "assembler".  Then I will re-register and make some more.  Just taking it in small bites, so I'm sure to complete them.

What else?  Last week-end we helped with some clean up, fix up, rip out and re-do at the Boat House.  A former church member (she has since died) gave the church housing association an apartment building.  She had been renting it out to "needy" folks for some years.  It has now become part of the city's affordable housing program.  We fix up the apartments as they become vacant and then they are rented out as low income/section 8 housing to families in need.  Each apartment has at least 3 bedrooms (2 have 4), 1 bathroom, kitchen with space and living room/dining room.  They are light and bright and really so attractive.  I had often thought I'd love to live there.  But here are the before photos.  It will be a few weeks/months before the after photos are available.

Sunday the 6 year old grand had a birthday.  It's easy to get forgotten when you are the last in line, and it was a bit difficult to share the limelight with the 1+ year old cousin who just learned to stand, but............

New "girl" legos

peppermint ice-cream cake

You can't expect me to stand up when there's a ball to play with

Rather a busy week around Casa Nana, so will catch up again soon.

Coming up on another week-end

Oh good gracious - it's been longer than I thought, since this little blog has been updated.  Things have been clicking along pretty quickly, despite political turmoil.  But we have all survived and here in Washington we even have a couple of new twists.  We shall see how things turn out with same sex marriage, decriminaliztion of marajuana, charter schools - not to mention - we still don't know who  our next governor will be.  Hmmmm.

We had great fun last week-end (and I forgot my camera).  We visited the farm (dogs, chickens, sheep) that one of our ministers keeps.  The three bigger grands came along and we had a great time.  We also pressed some apples for super fresh cider.

Been getting ready for colder weather.  Got the winter quilts on the bed.
 And the living room re-arranged.  What the heck.

 

Not a big deal, but I enjoy letting things look a bit different, once in a while.  And this way, it is easy to put the Christmas Tree in the front window.  [How's that for planning ahead?]  ;-)

I did 'live it up' and bought myself a new toy.  This has been much of my time [waster]  utilizer.

It's an iPad mini.  Just out.  I have to make arrangements to attend some of the Apple workshops that help with using your Apple products.  But so far, I do like it.  The learning curve isn't quite as bad as when I first got my Mac (after many years with PC's).  But it's great to take into the sewing room - I don't usually watch things, but I love having internet radio.  Woo Hoo.

This is soup weather - so got this one going today.  And we all know that homemade soup is better reheated, so this is actually for Saturday.  Our church owns an apartment house which is made available to limited income families.  At least one of the units is vacant, so there is a paint up/fix up day on Saturday.  I sure won't feel like making supper after a day there, so this will be all set in the 'fridge for warming up.

My long-arm quilting friend Alayne provided me with 5 different threads to try out for free-motion quilting.  So I made a little "sandwich" and gave them a "go".  They are all Superior Threads and I do like them.

this is King Tut

this is Poly Quilter

Today I tried my hand at making a Christmas placemat.  I didn't have a pattern.  I was just using a photo from May Britt's blog.  She lives in Norway but writes her blog in excellent English.  Take a peak.

Not the greatest fabrics, but mostly I was just trying out sizes and order of piecing.  Now to think about making a set of 4 or 6.  I like them. 

Tomorrow is taking the motorhome in for winterizing before parking it for the "duration"  (sigh!!!) and then a University of Washington Women's Basketball game.  The Pac 12 doesn't actually start until January, but there are several pre-season games to get us all in the mood.  Onward!

 

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.