Thursday, June 30, 2011

Wraping Up My Week

Just a few blocks from the RV Park in Grand Terrace, I stumbled across this tiny Quilt store called Bluebird Quilts.  Even though, I try to bring everything I need for my projects, I often find I have forgotton something so, I am glad to find a place to buy supplies. 
Even though this little store is small, it is full of quilting notions, patterns and fabric.
Just inside the door was a row of sale fabric and I found this fabric.
It just says summer to me and I decided I NEEDED it for a summer tablecloth or runner.
But when looking through my most recent issue of one of my favorite magazines,
I saw this and immediately thought of my watermelon fabric.
The little basket  the coasters are in reminded me of
these little treat bags that I made for the grandkids last year.
Sure enough  they were from the same designer:
Monica Solorio-Snow of Happy Zombie.
This is my version of her pattern using my wattermelon fabric and some pieces from my stash. I added the black piping because a watermelon has to have some black and I'll add a black button when I get home.
Here's a closeup of a coaster.
and the finished basket...it really neads a button.
It was an easy to follow pattern. I cut them all out one evening and sewed them the next afternoon.
Strip and chain pieced the coasters and they went quickly. I still have plenty of fabric for a tablecloth too.

Recently  I discovered that Monica has a line of fabrics...sew cute that I'm going to go to Strawberry Patches and get some on Saturday.
You can see them here.

Mostly, I sewed all week. Finished some machine embroidery on towels for a friend and made some of my Girly Girl purses. Tried to make a zipper rose (haven't mastered that yet).Sewed hair clips on some chiffon flowers for the grands. Worked on two quilts. I'm hand quilting one and machine pieceing one.  I just work on these a little bit each day.

Tomorrow morning, I head back home.  I haven't seen my two oldest grandkids that live in Tehachapi for the longest time.  They have really been on my heart this week, so I'm going to try to see them before we head back to our home away from home on Monday.

Next week, I may get to meet another fellow blogger, so will get to post about that.
In case I don't get back here, everyone have a happy and safe 4th of July.




God is Good!!
Life is Good!!

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

This and That Tuesday

Lately, even though, I have some things to blog about, I just can't seem to "get it together". So today I thought I'd just put a few little things out there.
Last week, besides our fun anniversary date, we had  a fun evening with new found friends. Barb and Carl visited us again.
Even though, we have been in and out of this RV Park all spring and we had not ventured up to the pool area. We took advantage of the really nice BBQ area and had a picnic of BBQ Chicken and salads.
 When I found out Barb of Dogmom Diva was coming for a visit, I wanted to make something for her brand new grand baby girl. It is her first, so it had to be special. I had several little pieces left of the vintage linen tablecloth I had used for this dress for my baby Emmy.


So, I was able to make this for baby Gracie.
It's all vintage findings including the crocheted edging, buttons and ribbon. The ribbon was part of a giveaway win from not long ago.


Then over the weekend, while we were back home, I was able to catch up on grandkid stuff.
Kobi at a vollyball game.  She is really a powerful server.

Lexi's swim meet. She is awesome at the breastsroke and won a ribbon this week

I also finished this and took it in to Strawberry Patches on Saturday.
Suzanne at Notes of the Patch did a sew easy tutorial for making these little T-shirt dresses today. Click on her name to see just how easy and to get those cute little shirts, embellishments and fabric.


One more thing...I had really planned to make a beach tote this summer, but never seem to find the time. I was in Rite Aid Saturday buying rafts for the kids for their pool and I found this cute bag for 1/2 price.
Only $5.00 and I just had to take it home. Look at those cute handles and the button. It comes in several colors and is plenty roomy for my beach towel, sunscreen and Kindle.

Well, enough of this and that, I'm off to try a little project I found in the latest Quilts and More Magazine.
Maybe I can "get it together" and post about it before next week, but don't hold your breath.
Just being real, here.



God is Good!!
Life is Good!!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Forty Three and Counting

No, sadly, that isn't my age and yesterday wasn't my birthday. It was Mr. SS's and my anniversary.  It seems like yesterday and yet it seems like forever. Does that make sense? 
In the past we have done various things to celebrate, from doing nothing, to a quiet dinner at home. We've gone out to fancy dinners,  to hamburgers and a movie. We've spent many anniversaries in Laughlin NE, celebrating with our good friends Dave and Gail (who were married one week before we were).
As Mr. SS went out the door yesterday, he said, "Well, you can make plans, or we'll decide when I get home."  I think that was a hint that it was my responsibility this year to plan our celebration.

While exploring the area around the park in Riverside where we stayed two weeks ago, I came across a Drive-In Theater.  I know, I am dating myself here, but Drive-In Theaters were a popular date destination when I was a teenager.  I couldn't believe this one was a working theater and not just a place for swap meets. The one we used to take our kids to in Bakersfield turned into a SwapMeet and is now an RV Park.

Memories flooded back when I saw the Drive-In. Mr. SS and I had been dating several weeks when he asked to take me to the local Drive-In Theater. Now, in those days, it wasn't a situation for a first date, but by this time it sounded romantic.  See, in the "olden days", cars were not bucket seats with a console in the middle. Mr. SS's car had a bench seat and I sat next to him. (That was the romantic part)Really, that's what you did then. I know...I'm old.
Well, to make this short, I will just tell you that, that night he told me he loved me for the first time.  It was another 2 years before we were married, but when I saw a real Drive-In, that's what I remembered.

Sooooooo! I have to plan our anniversary date, huh?  It didn't really matter what is playing. We are going to the Drive-In.  Would we go to dinner first? No, no, no! I did what we did when we took our kids to the show.  I made sandwiches, baked cookies and popped corn.  I packed the car, and when Mr. SS came home from work, I asked him to clean up and put on his shorts, (it was 100 degrees here today). Of course, being the longest day of the year, it was awhile before we left, but this was our destination.
I wish we could have gotten here in time to get a better picture, but it was already getting dark. I was barely able to get this blurry picture as we drove in.

This is the back of one of the movie screens.  I got out of the car for this one, so it isn't blurry. Just wonder what the people in the car behind us thought about the crazy lady with her camera.

 We got a good spot and were soon surrounded by cars and trucks, with people and kids setting up lawn chairs and coolers and blankets and pillows
The only thing missing here were the playground toys...
Sometime soon we are bringing some of the grandkids  with us to our home away from home and you can bet we will be taking them to the Drive-In Theater. Maybe the new Cars II will be showing. Wouldn't that be fun.

Mr. SS said that this topped his list of ways to celebrate our anniversary. I told him that I have always been a cheap date.

PS
I just found an historic picture on the Rubidioux Drive-In Website.  It hasn't changed much. Much better than the ones I got.



On a completely different note...I have been having a terrible time with posting, so haven't been able to visit all my favorite blogs much. Usually unless it lists URL as a way to post, I can't  post. It keeps telling me to sign in to blogger. I do that, over and over, but always loose my post.
Also took me all morning to get pictures to show up on my post. Anyone else having this problem and if so, have you figured out how to fix it? Any help will be appreciated.



God is Good!!
Life is Good!!

Saturday, June 18, 2011

The Rest of the Story

This morning I went back to see the dentist so they could finish the job they started three weeks ago. You remember that rant, I'm sure.  I was told right away by the endodonists (2 of them) that I needed to sign a release that they had informed me that they might not be able to save my tooth.  Oh boy!! I just started praying and prayed silently the whole time they were working on me.  Forty Five minutes (not 3 hrs.) later I heard, "Good news,(not Bad News this time) Beverly. We were able to save  your tooth and you may go now." I still have to go back for the crown and work on my gums, but me and my tooth are doing a "happy dance"

I went home and "celebrated" by making some tea and sitting down with one of my favorite magazines.
 I know I have shown you this before, but the summer one just came out. It is chock full of ideas for summer parties, receipes and just fun stuff.
One of my favorite holidays to decorate a table for is the 4th of July.
Red, White and Blue just make me tingly all over.
There are always invitations  and other goodies to copy in the back of the book.
This party invitation is the cutest thing, and all you have to do to have it for your own party is put the printable version in the back of the magazine in your printer and push start. Isn't it just so cute.
I have some glasse almost like these, I need to find the box they are in and get a tablescape started.
Here they are showing how to make this centerpiece and the pinwheels. Your really need to make pinwheels.
They are so cute and so easy.

Well, that is just a little part of all the wonderful ideas I found.  Each edition includes ideas for the holidays and seasons that occur during the time line.

I must confess, after enjoying my magazine, I treated myself to a nap. Didn't sleep much the night before. Hmmmm, wonder why??



God is Good!
Life is Good!

Monday, June 13, 2011

Kona Banana Nut Bread

Friday night it was back home from Riverside for the weekend. These greeted me on the counter in our RV cottage. Most mornings, I start my day with yogurt and a banana, but I had forgotton to take these with me last week. They look pretty bad, huh?  But, they are perfect for one of Mr. SS's favorites:
Banana Bread
So, Saturday morning, I decided to bake my Kona Banana Nut Bread .

Mash Bananas ( I use 3 regular or 2 large size)
Chop 1/2 cup nuts (these are walnuts, but pecans are great too)
Mr. SS isn't too fond of nuts, so I chop them really fine.
Cream 1/2 cup butter and 1 cup sugar.
Add 2 eggs ( no grandkids around, so I ran (not a pretty picture) out to the chicken coop and literally stole 2 eggs from a little brown hen.  Beat well
Add mashed banana. (When I say "mashed banana" I always think of a "Wiggles" song.) My grandkids love the "Wiggles" If you don't know them, just ask your kids or grandkids.
To 1 1/4 cup flour, add 3/4tsp. baking soda and 1/2 tsp. salt and add
to mixture. Just mix this until it is incorporated. Don't over beat.
Mix in nuts.
Until my friend Ruth gave me this mini loaf pan, this recipe made one large loaf. I always had trouble getting it done in the center without being too done on the edges.
I now always use this pan. Be sure to spray well with a cooking spray.
I use my large ice cream scoop. One level scoop for each loaf...perfect.
I put them in my mini RV cottage oven and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
As soon as they come out of the oven, I take 2 of them and a cup of coffee out to the shop for Mr.SS.
Besides  putting some finishing touches on the new cabinets for our little blue trailer, he is getting this table ready for me to paint. It is replacing the bankette (?) that we took out of the trailer. It is a small table we found last year at my friend MariEllen's shop in Long Beach.
I'm painting it white.
The table is so small,  that we have had trouble finding chairs that were small enough to look good with the table and fit in the small space.  Last weekend, I found these at a nearby Thrift Shop. They are vintage folding chairs. They are a heavy metal and very sturdy. I am going to paint them white and make a cute comfy cushion for the seat. A bargain at $15.00.


Back in Riverside this morning and lots of sewing projects. 
So...I'd better get busy. 



God is Good!!
Life is Good!!

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Technically challenged...

I think I have become a weekly poster. I have a good excuse this week.  All my pictures were in the memory of my camera because I left the card in the computer. I could not figure out how to get them on the computer.
Well, I am feeling so proud of myself this morning. I went on the Kodak website and found out how to get them from the camera memory to my card so I could get them to the computer...Duh! I know some of you would have no trouble with that, but as my title says...

Some of what I did last week,
starting with watching this guy catch a bunny and devour it (oh my!) and then run through MY space twice before disappearing.
Click on picture to see him better. I was as close as I was about to get, inside my motorhome through the windshield.

I made some bar stool pads for a client to match the three shades I made for her kitchen a month ago.
A cute little bubble dress for a model for Strawberry Patches.
And another cute little dress for a model.

Then while home for the weekend, we worked on our little trailer that we are redoing.
This corner is where the table goes. It used to be a bankette (?) table ( table with benches on either side)as  most all trailers have, but we took it out and will replace it. I'll show you what we are replacing it with soon.
A close up shows a blue and mauve mottled paneling.
I put up wallpaper. Yes, this is textured wallpaper that looks exactly like beadboard. Even Mr. SS (carpenter, everything has to be wood, man) loves it. I still have to paint (yes, you paint it) and it will really look just like wood. Can you tell...I love this too.  The greatest part, it was so easy to work with. I have put up a lot of wallpaper and this was a wallpaperer's dream.

Before we packed up and left to come back to Riverside, Jack had his 5th birthday party. I finally got to see him with his new Cowboy shirt on. He likes it almost as much as I did making it?

Mr. SS got to spend some Pappaw time with our youngest family member, Emmy Lou.
She doesn't sit still for anyone, but he bribed her with her drink cup.

We are back in Riverside now, and I have had another busy week. I'll share with you another time.
It is gloomy outside and I have a crockpot simmering with Chili and am doing what I love to do.
 I am so blessed.

What are you doing that you love?



God is Good!!
Life is Good!!