Back by popular demand ... Year in Review!

Ok, I'm probably the only one wanting it!  But somehow the New Year doesn't seem started until I summarize the last year!  This year, I'm really,really late doing this.  So, best get on with it!

Projects I made and loved.  Not necessarily both on the same project!  Just ask DH - sometimes he thinks I've turned into a teamster! The language!!



Over the River ... the Scenic Route.  This adorable Crabapple Hill pattern was a joy to make with a friend.  Until I moved and had finished my part of "her version" but hadn't started on my own!  Then it drug on and on and on ... Here it is on the design wall. But it's Finished at last! And I like it again! Read more about it here.



Brookings guild had a Nautical Challenge.  Oh, I've got no time for that, until I was sifting and sorting thru books and found one that had a Nautical Theme and there were several patterns there that attracted me ... I found I did have time after all! Story here.

Finished

First 16 blocks on design wall

 

I made a Stacked Blocks Quilt of Valor.  It's really scrappy - just up my alley!  But at the same time, looks very modern!  I don't always still to RW&B for QOVs.  It's no required, but usually they are RW&B.  But I think an interesting to look at quilt is welcome any time. Read more here.

We had a RW&B raffle quilt last year.  When a friend and I were selling chances on it at the Town Home Show.  A veteran let us know, in no uncertain terms, that just because he was a veteran did NOT mean that he was attracted to RW&B.  Let's just say, we were well-educated women on that subject! And it gives me the chance to make scrap quilts!  I love that.



The Newport Guild is uber-organized.  The BOM one year, well - N organized it within an inch of government control!  We had to sign a contract that we would display it at our show during the next 3 years.  Boy, 3 years can just whiz by!!  It's a lovely quilt, but I was done with it.  So I took the flowers and put them in the garden. Notice the bunny hiding in the flowers!! More here.



There was a wedding quilt to make for a Great-Nephew.  It's an online pattern and it worked up wonderfully!  I recommend it! Get the information here.

      

My favorites were the Halloween quilts - not started until late September - but I loved them and so did the 4 grandkids!!  Read about them here and here.

There were PJ pants; fabric post cards; cuddle blankies ... and lets not forget - an Alaskan Cruise!

I read at least 68 books!  I reread some of my favorites, didn't count those

My favorites included:

Poison Flower by Thomas Perry

Slow Kill by Michael McGarrity

A short series of books by Jack McDevitt - Ancient Shores and Eternity Road, and Moonfall. This author (from the past) writes the BEST sci-fi!  Not about the technology, but personalities.  I haven't read any that I didn't love.

The Girl from Boston by Anita Diamant

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Finders Keepers by Stephen King  I love how King weaves his other stories into this books!  Makes me smile every time.

The Martian by Andy Weir  And you thought the movie was good ... the book is even better!

Five Days Left by Julie Lawson Timmer

Which books did you love last year??

I'm going to have to start keeping track of movies!!  Here are some I remember loving!

A Good Lie
Star Wars The Awakening (of course)
Tomorrowland

Well - that does it!!  Let the new year ring out!

In the words of Neil Gaiman   (from Word Porn ):

May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness,  I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art - write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can.  And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.

Happy New Year!!

Let's just pretend that I didn't leave you hanging at the end of the year!  I caught the respiratory flu the week before Christmas and it took me DOWN!  Luckily, we were able to keep our Christmas plans - I finally felt like myself the night before we left!  Thank you!

We headed to DD's in Portland first.  Thanksgiving was so hectic, we stayed in a hotel next to my DS's family and felt that we didn't get much Grandkid time.  So we "avoided the rush" and went a day early ... along with 1/2 of the crowd that had the same idea!!!  There's no control group, but I feel that we still got there a little easier than past years.

There were games and baking and wrapping and peeking ... also some last minute-ish shopping by DH and myself!  Great fun.  We made chili for Christmas Eve dinner.  We had my DH's favorite side dish - cinnamon rolls! It was a MidWest favorite school lunch!



Miss P showing off her snowflake ornament made at school!

The dogs were interested in EVERYTHING.  Luckily my DD always gets a present for them, which they get to open first - which keeps them busy the rest of the day.  A new chew bone or Kong.



Mr M showing his new Jurassic Park Lego video - a cute game that follows the movie plot.

Here's the Christmas morning PJ picture.

We stayed in Portland until after opening the presents Christmas morning. And then headed for Medford to DS's house.

More traffic than usual on Christmas Day but still easy.

There is a game that the boys love to play with Papa, Dad or Mom (Nana can't do it!)  the boys run from the kitchen into the adults arms and everyone goes over backwards screaming and laughing!!  The boys can do this forever!!!! This picture is always blurry - even using the Nikon!!

Enjoy the "reset" it doesn't last long!!  The biggest surprise was when DS came roaring in after them!!  No, he didn't make Papa catch him, but everyone was hysterical with laughter!  Soon after that "scare" DS had to take over the 'catching' role.

DDIL always makes sugar cookies with the boys at Christmas, then everyone helps ice them.  For some reason, the gingerbread people always turn into super heroes!!  She's got that down pat!!

DS had made a roast for dinner and that was delish!  The boys are still young enough (probably the last year) that we can pretend that Christmas is the 26th.  So we got to have two Christmas Eves and two Christmas mornings!  It was great fun watching 2 and 4 year olds tear into presents!!  The pj pants were a big hit!

Christmas morning in Medford!

After the presents were ooohed and ahhhhed over, we headed for San Francisco!  Going over the Siskiyou pass was our favorite view of Winter!  Clear highway, beautiful fresh snow covered mountains out our windows!! Perfect!

We stay by Fishermen's Wharf; the first night we walked to Scoma's on the wharf. One of our favorite restaurants.  I've been 'researching' Lemon Drops this year - as in, who makes the best!!!  I don't drink very much - 3 drinks give me a hang-over ... I mean headache the next morning.  But the research must go on!  LOL!  I had a little surprise at Scoma's - the bartender rimmed the glass with salt, not sugar!!  Yeow!

He apologized, he'd thought he might have and was keeping an eye out ... and made me another one double quick!!  But, yeah, there's no mistaking that little error!  The rest of the meals went perfect after that!!

Our wedding anniversary is Dec 28, We celebrated 43 years by enjoying the city.  Two nights we dined in North Beach Italian restaurants.  YUM!  There was a chocolate raspberry dessert that I'm dreaming about!!




I L*O*V*E Britex Fabrics off of Union Square - there's a Notions FLOOR!  Love the button selection!

      

We got a 3 day pass for city transportation and rode cable cars, the trolly and buses for the rest of our stay.    The trolly driver was fast off the line and one hand on the horn at all times!  Except when he had to get off to rehook us to the cable!!! Pushed the limit on how fast he can take the corners!  And although the temperatures were reported to be in the 50s ... well, it was SF 50s - glove weather!!  It didn't rain on us; and we had great fun.  Love the cable cars even in cold weather! We rode all three lines - and one of the cable cars had decorated the ceiling for the Holidays!!

  

The chills; the hills; the thrills!!  The conductors were always in a good or entertaining mood.  I'll never forget the driver of the car, when it dawned on him he was trying to squeeze-in in front of a cable car!!  Deer in the Headlights personified!!

Other than some traffic problems outside of SF - our trip was picture-perfect.  Beautiful drive back up 101; stopped at Freddies to pick up milk, etc.  Pulled into the driveway and it started raining!  DH remarked, "Well, crap!  We're home!"  Brookings had 26 inches of rain in just December!  So, hopefully, the drought is over!

Next up - Year in Review!!  I promise!