%27Click+the+Share+button+to+create+links+to+this+email+on+popular+social+networking+and+bookmarking+size+like+Facebook%2C+Twitter%2C+and+Digg.%27+

%27Click+the+Share+button+to+create+links+to+this+email+on+popular+social+networking+and+bookmarking+size+like+Facebook%2C+Twitter%2C+and+Digg.%27+

'Click the Share button to create links to this email on popular social networking and bookmarking size like Facebook, Twitter, and Digg.'

'Click the Share button to create links to this email on popular social networking and bookmarking size like Facebook, Twitter, and Digg.'

Home from Hawaii

We are back home, Vacation was fabulous! This was the view from our lanai. I could watch the sun setting in the evening, and the sun rising in the morning. Will post more when I am back in the swing of things.
But for now, I miss you my Hawaii.

Quilting Gallery

Thought for today

Dust If You Must

Author: Unknown

Dust if you must.
But wouldn't it be better
to paint a picture, or write a letter,
bake a cake, or plant a seed.
Ponder the difference between want and need.

Dust if you must.
But there is not much time,
with rivers to swim and mountains to climb!
Music to hear, and books to read,
friends to cherish and life to lead.

Dust if you must.
But the world's out there
with the sun in your eyes, the wind in your hair,
a flutter of snow, a shower of rain.
This day will not come round again.

Dust if you must.
But bear in mind,
old age will come and it's not kind.
And when you go, and go you must,
you, yourself, will make more dust.



“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” - James 4:14

Thought for today

God didn't promise day without pain, laughter without sorrow,
sun without rain. But He did promise strength for the day,
comfort for tears and light for the way.

-- Author Unknown

New Look

I feel restless, I need a change... :) How do you like my new look? I feel lighter with this look, and am still trying to figure out how to get links connected to my blog layout so you can go directly to the places I talk about without leaving my blog. Others can do it, why cant I figure this out :(?

Quilting Bloggers

Finished my Quilt Along Zig-Zag quilt

Check out my studio page for the finished quilt - Rose of Sharon Studio.




I have to get seriously busy on my Quilt for the Kona Coffee festival. I finished the top, now for the heavy quilting I have planned, want a sneak peak?








Now to go out and rescue a toad that has fallen into our pond, sigh, the work is never done :)

Azaria's Room

The theme for my Sweetpeas room is sock monkeys. I am so excited that my daughter and son wanted me to help decorating and let me paint on the walls. It has been a long time coming, but I finally got to start on the murals. I still have a lot to do, but thought I would post what I have done so far and will finish as soon as possible.



Azaria was very interested in what Grandma was doing. Maybe she will like to paint too someday. I cant wait!

Butterflly Kisses

Have you ever been kissed by a butterfly? In our garden we have all kinds of flower plants that butterflies and hummingbirds love. Every summer we get flocks of white butterflies in our garden. They are not big like Monarchs but kinda in between them and the little orange ones. As you can tell, I am not a butterfly specialist. :)
But I do love to watch these beautiful (in their simplicity) creatures. When they fly, it is like a circle dance. They circle up and down, and around each other. A dance, more than a flight.
While watering one evening I was watching them dance, and one was circling up towards me. I stood very still, mesmerized by its closeness. It circle up to my lips, lightly touched them, then circled down. I felt like I had been kissed by a butterfly. I think it was thanking me for tending its home.:)
I stood there a long time without moving, just relishing the moment that I was kissed by a butterfly.

Good Advice

Believe your beliefs and doubt your doubts.

-- F. F. Bosworth

20th Anniversary Musings

What a wonderful weekend! I just love staying at the Embassy Suites! I love the layout, the view from our room, the double room, the full buffet and cooked to order FREE breakfast, and of course the 2 hour Happy Hour in the evening.

But most of all, I love the man I married 20 years ago, I love being near him, doing things with him, talking to him, and just being with him. He truly is the love of my life, and I am so grateful that God joined us together here and thru eternity. What a blessing and what a gift!

Speaking of gift, our kids came and spent the 4th with us. It was so nice to have all of us together on our anniversary. And to spend the day together was the best gift of all. The fireworks were glorious! The best yet. Cayucos puts on the very best fireworks show we have found in our travels. Just incredible.
What a weekend!

Happy 4th of July!

We will be going to the beach this weekend.
Yea! I get to see my ocean!
Can't wait.
This 4th of July I will be married to my sweetheart for 20 years. It seems as though we just met, and yet I cannot believe that there was a time when we weren't together. I am so grateful to have met and married my best friend. But he is so very much more than that.
We will be going back to Moonstone Beach where we spent our one night honeymoon. For years (10) we went back to the same motel and stayed in the same room and watched the fireworks in Cambria, sometimes from the cliffs, and sometimes from our room. But the new owners wouldn't hold our room for us and our tradition was broken when we had to stay in a different room. It was also the last time we stayed there. No, we wont be staying at that motel, but we will be going down to the beach across from it and look for moonstones :)

Actually, I should thank the new owners because after that disappointment we have spent many anniversaries at the beach in different places, and even states.
My favorite- Kailua Kona. Of course. We have spent the last 3 anniversaries at Bubba Gumps watching the fireworks just off Kailua Bay. Beautiful!

We will be watching them in Cayucos this year. They have a wonderful fireworks display right off the pier over the ocean. It is our second favorite place to spend our anniversary.
Well we are off on our adventure. Happy Independence Day!

So True

Sometimes God doesn't tell us His plan because we wouldn't believe it anyway. -- Carlton Pearson

Seasons Change

We are changing seasons here in the Kern River Valley. Although we had more than our four days of spring this year, I am not ready for spring to leave. Unless, of course, it takes this blasted wind with it. Fathers day the wind blew so hard we just stayed in all day.
Now we are going from our mild (for this time of the year) 83-87 degrees to high 90's, and low 100's for the weekend.
Dont get me wrong, I love the warm weather. I dread winter. But my cooler isnt ready at my studio. Nuff whining.
The White pelicans are dwindling and moving on. We get flocks of white pelicans joining us every winter. I am not sure where they come from, nor where they go when they leave. All I know is that our lake is almost 3 hours (driving time), and two mountain chains, away from any ocean. And our lake is no substitute for the beach, but here they are every year. We must be on their migration map. Some day I am going to have to research this amazing thing. But not today.
Today I have to go to my bookkeeping job. It is my friday!

Happy Fathers Day

Happy Fathers Day to all you fathers out there. Happy Fathers day to my sweet husband Michael, who chose to be a father to two young boys, (whose father went his own way), that desperately needed a father in their lives. And now happy fathers day to my youngest son who is celebrating his first fathers day.

And

Happy Fathers day to my heavenly Father, who is always here with me, forever faithful and loving, who guides and directs my steps, and gives me everlasting life. The One True Father.

Today everything is Quiet

Yesterday, while celebrating Fathers Day, my hubby took pictures of the babies as they peeked out of their birdhouse and watched momma and daddy (Jack & Sally Sparrow) feed them. It was as noisy as it has been the last week. All hungry and demanding.

When we went indoors to eat, the boys commented how noisy the birds were, we just smiled. Afterwards, I was taking some veggies out to Shadrak, our tortoise, looked up at the bird house and there was a head peaking out at me. But it wasn't a birdie, it was a gopher snake. Now I never even thought to worry about one of those! Of course, my sweet noisy babies are gone. Into the circle of life.

It makes me sad, but also makes me realize again how fragile life can be and how we are not in control of our surroundings. Oh, we can plant, water, plan, dream, and aspire. But the end result is not in our control.

We kept the cats from getting the babies, but we couldn't keep that sneaky snake from getting them. We can plant our garden and expect it to give us the fruit and vegetables we see on the little package, but we have to wait for the outcome. We can carefully and prayerfully plan our lives to the fullest, most fun and rewarding, but we cannot predict the future.

The Bible says, "The mind of man plans his way but the Lord directs his steps."

I have always said that man plans and God laughs. Gods' plans are always better than what we dream up. I have also known that no matter how hard I try, Control is an illusion. But it never stops me from trying to control my surroundings.

I wanted to strangle that snake, instead I had my 6'4" son reach up and lift the birdhouse from the pole and turn the 3' gopher snake loose in my garden. Hopefully next time he will get those horrible gophers. I just keep telling myself it is natures way, the circle of life.

But I still had tears streaming down my face when Sally came joyfully up to the porch with her prize moth in her mouth for her babies and they were not there. And I had tears when Jack sat on the branch and just watched and watched the birdhouse for his babies. Even the sparrows have plans. But God cares for the little sparrows too, and they will refurbish the birdhouse and be back. I hope.
We will snake proof the birdhouse now in hopes of a new family. And life goes on.

Ah, this funny, sad, exciting, excruciating, heart filling, and heart wrenching, Circle of Life we are on.

This is for the birds!

Our new babies are so noisy that they are overtaking the frogs! There are four of them and one is going to get pushed out, I just know it!

Right Brain- go figure

My cyber friend Pat Sloan posted about this test. Curiosity got the best of me....
So I took it!
And Big Surprise I am Right brained....lol


Right Brain vs Left Brain Creativity Test

About this test | Disclaimer


Thank you for taking the Creativity Test. The results show your brain dominance as being:

Left Brain Right Brain
39% 61%

You are more right-brained than left-brained. The right side of your brain controls the left side of your body. In addition to being known as right-brained, you are also known as a creative thinker who uses feeling and intuition to gather information. You retain this information through the use of images and patterns. You are able to visualize the "whole" picture first, and then work backwards to put the pieces together to create the "whole" picture. Your thought process can appear quite illogical and meandering. The problem-solving techniques that you use involve free association, which is often very innovative and creative. The routes taken to arrive at your conclusions are completely opposite to what a left-brained person would be accustomed. You probably find it easy to express yourself using art, dance, or music. Some occupations usually held by a right-brained person are forest ranger, athlete, beautician, actor/actress, craftsman, and artist.

Fathers Day

I do admit fathers day has never been one of my favorite days.
I do have a father, I do send him a card.

That being said, I do not have warm fuzzy memories of growing up and fathers. Or even of being an adult and fathers. Fathers always leave, always let you down, hurt you, and are not to be trusted. I did have one stepfather that I loved, but he is gone now. And I guess one out of three aint to bad.
At least, that is my experience with fathers.

Now Grandads and Uncles are a different story. :) Grandads and Uncles are everything daddys are suppose to be. They love you unconditionally, are always there when you need them, never lie to you, and never never hurt you.
At least, that is my experience with Grandads and Uncles.

Even the father I chose for my boys let them down, left, hurt them, and could not be trusted.

But my sweetheart Michael changed all that. He came into our lives, loves the boys unconditionally, raised them, was and is always here for them, never left them, and would never ever hurt them. My Michael is their daddy.

I like fathers day a little more now that I have Michael. And now that our youngest son is a daddy. And our oldest son is the best Uncle in the whole world.
I am now surrounded by men who dont leave, who can be trusted, who wont lie to me, and would never ever leave me.....

Happy Fathers Day

Spring in th Kern River Valley

We have had more wind this spring than I can ever remember in my 23 years of living here. We have also had a longer spring than I can ever remember. A trade off maybe? This is the first year that I have had birds nest in my birdhouses too! I have a small collection of birdhouses on my porch. The oldest and most delapidated one is the home of Jack and Sally Sparrow. ( Jack Sparrow - get it? I know, but he is my favorite pirate! lol) They had two babies that grew up and flew off a couple of weeks ago, now they have four babies and they are getting big. They should be leaving the nest next week. It is so fun to sit and watch and listen. Boy, the parents sure work hard at feeding these four noisy hungry babies.
Soon they will fly away and spring will turn to summer. Every thing is in constant change, constant movement. But it is nice to just sit on my porch and watch and just be in the moment.
Oh, did I mention that I have five cats? They have been told that the birds are off limits. So far, so good....

Old Red Barn Co Quilt Along

I have pieced it all together now and am adding borders. Not wasting an inch of fabric!
I have added a 2" Black border and the 2" block strips left over from cutting 11 1/2" blocks.
Now another 2"black strip and the 7 1/2" strips left over and I will be ready to quilt. Should I quilt it with red thread, black thread or white? mmmm?

This is what I was talking about Yesterday!

We Christians must simplify our lives or lose untold treasures
on earth and in eternity. Modern civilization is so complex as
to make the devotional life all but impossible. The need for
solitude and quietness was never greater than it is today.

-- A. W. Tozer

Old Red Barn Co Quilt Along

Old Red Barn Co



3 weeks ago I posted about a Quilt Along at the Red Barn Co. I decided to Quilt Along!
I bought black and white fat quarters a few years ago at Asilomar and saved them for something special. This is special!
First you pick out the fabric, then cut it into strips, then sew the strips together in blocks of six. Then cut the strips three times, to make a square, rectangle and strip.
Then arrange blocks and sew together. Simple enough huh?

Catching Up

Catching Up
Do we ever really get caught up?
I keep trying, then I could have a day off.
But if I take a day off then I will be behind again.
It is the vicious circle we call life. We have put so much pressure on ourselves that we cannot or will not stop and rest and just be.
But we have so much to do.

I will go to work today and try to get caught up. But I promise to take a moment here and there to smell my roses, pet my cats, play with my dogs, and commune with my God.

Oh, and water the garden, and the lawn and flowers, vacuum and tidy up my studio. Do the dishes and take out the trash, and finish the laundry, and cook dinner. Oh, and finish the quilt on the rack and add a new one.

Wow, I gotta go, gotta lot to do. Maybe if I do all this I will get caught up. Then I could have a day off. :)

Quilt Qua Give away!

Here is info on the latest giveaway: Win: 1 Frosted Memories Fat Quarter Bundle by Holly Taylor for Moda Fabrics ! To enter simply "tell a friend" to spread the word about Quilt Qua. You can send an e-mail to people, post on your blog, comment on someone else's blog, put info in your guild newsletter, etc. Then send an e-mail to: quiltqua@gmail.com and let me know what you did. Enter as often as you wish. Random drawing for the winner will be at 10 pm July 31st. (Feel free to post giveaway info on your site)

Quilt Qua

http://www.quiltqua.com/links/blog Check this out! Great Site!

Drawing Day

Quilt Out Loud!

Quilt Out Loud
http://www.quiltoutloud.com/
While we’re busy cooking up a great show for you–exclusive to QNNtv.com–learn about the show and about us by clicking on the links to the left. We can’t wait to debut!
1 of 1Choose a Thumbnail
No Thumbnail

Pickle Road Yahoo Group

style="border: 0px;"
alt="Click to join PickleRoadStudio"/>

Click to join PickleRoadStudio

3/50 Project

Spring is Here

We have a porch that is our evening sanctuary. It is filled with plants, bird houses, crosses, frogs,patio furniture and a small pond. In the evening, after chores, my sweetheart and I sit a few minutes, relax and unwind. We share our day and everything that weighs us down is left there. It is a peaceful few minutes. We listen to the water gurgling in the pond, the frogs singing, and the news of each others day.
This year for the first time in 15 years we had a family of sparrows nest in one of our bird houses. They added chirping to our evenings repertoire. It was a wonderful addition to our evenings. We worried about the babies and our five cats though. But the babies flourished, and then flew away. Just like that, they were gone.
It got me to thinking how fleeting life is. We raise our kids, and blink our eye, and they are off living their own lives, as they should. It is a wonderful cycle.
It also reminded me of Gods care for us. He watches over the sparrow and takes care of so many little sparrows. His love is even greater for us His children. God will provide for all our needs.
I wonder if the sparrows will come back next spring. Only time will tell.

Back to the Garden

Ah, spring in the Kern River Valley. Warmer days, cool nites, and very unpredictable weather. The only thing you can count on is the wind. It blows every day, just at different speeds.
But it is time to brave the wind and plant our garden for summer/fall. We pull up the weeds, till the ground and mulch it, and put the tiny seeds to rest in the ground. Then start the process of watering and feeding and tending. Anticipating the rewards of our labor when the seeds turn into plants and the plants bear their wares in the various shapes and colors of vegetables and fruit. We will enjoy these treasures and share the wealth.
But I wonder at the miracle of it all. We plant and tend and anticipate a lot from these tiny seeds. It is a lot of work, but for us a labor of love.
I come from a long line of gardeners. My grandparents had gardens. My Grandma Kelly tended her garden daily all year round. It was what she did. My grandma had a green thumb, anything and everything grew for her. She had the most amazing garden.
We started in a garden. But there was no work to be done, worry to be had, or anything that needed weeding or watering. It was simple perfection. Nothing to do all day but enjoy the garden, eat of its' bounty, and commune with God. Total peace and perfection. But Eve was tempted and Adam followed. And we were expelled from the garden of life and peace. I think of how stupid Eve was, then I think of the stupid things I have done. Truth is, I would like to say I would have done differently, but reality says my fingers would be sticky from that fruit too.
We need to get back to that garden. Back to a simpler, more peaceful, and calmer life. More communing with God and nature. Back to contentment with what we have and recognizing the blessings that God brings us new each morning. Back to a garden of peaceful beauty and worship of our Lord. Back to the garden without tears, pain, stress and impossible needs.
Back to the garden that does not have these darn grasshoppers that have already eaten the leaves on our melon and eggplants!

Kona Coffee Quilt Contest

Aloha!
The Kona Coffee Quilt Contest will be held for the 3rd time this year if there are enough entrants. As it stands now there aren't :(. I have entered this contest twice and only won an honorable mention. But it is the challenge and the thrill of having my quilt accepted and then seeing it hanging in Kailua Kona that keeps me entering. Anyone interested in entering check out the website http://www.konacoffeequiltcontest.org for the rules and deadlines. I will also take a picture of your quilts while I am there and email them to you. So, come join the fun. Oh, and there is a cash prize too, as if that matters! lol Good Luck, and happy quilting.

Musings on my Birthday

We are funny creatures. The whole of us made up with tiny pieces of family and friends that have gone before us, or touched us in some sweet, or bittersweet way. We all have our own unique gifts, ideas and ways of looking at things, and of doing things.
Like folding towels.
I fold towels like my mom taught me. I wonder who taught her? Or did she see it in a magazine in the 50's? But I have "my own way" of folding towels. I even refold my sweethearts towel because he doesn't fold it like I do. Even after more than 20 years. He has his own way too, but I redo it... :)

I started pondering this when my best girlfriend was telling me how she knew her moms Alzheimer's was getting worse. Her mom forgot how to fold the towels "her" way, and folded them haphazardly. And her mom had a very specific way of folding towels that allowed no deviations. And now she has forgotten. It has left her.
I wonder, is this a loss, or a freedom?
To those around, it is a painful reminder that she is leaving them. One thought, or memory at a time.

I believe that we need to grasp this day as if it is all that we are allotted, Bask in its glory and sunshine. Be in its moments and enjoy the day for all it is worth. No one is guaranteed tomorrow. Tell those you love them today. Give your dog or cat an extra pet. Hug your friends a little longer, a little tighter. Smile and thank God for this day, for this moment, and that you have finished the laundry. How do you know that the laundry is finished?
You just folded the last towel.

Bloggers Quilt Festival

Sea Diamonds

Here I am with my quilt in Hawaii. It is hanging in the Quilt Hawaii show. I didnt win anything, but sometimes you "win" just by being accepted. I had a great time too.

Sea Diamonds

This is a close up of my favorite part. I just love the way my seaweed turned out. It reminds me of the seaweed we found as kids walking the beach in Santa Barbara with our Granddad.

Sea Diamonds

I started this quilt at Asilomar in my friend Jan Krentz' class. Diamond landscapes. The background (ocean, sky, and sand) are all 3" diamonds. The shells, seaweed, and sand dollars at the bottom are all drawn by me, hand appliqued, with trapunto and embellished with beads. I enjoyed this technique so much I have 2 other quilts in the making.

My favorite Quilt- Sea Diamonds

This is part of my favorite quilt. I drew up the shells and hand appliqued them with trapunto and embellished them with beads.
The sand dollars and shells shown are at the very bottom of the quilt.