Monday, December 31, 2012

The year in review

The past few days I have been looking back on the year. Just like other years, we had some good and some bad things happen, but it seems as though the bad were a bit worse than normal.
The bad included the passing of two of Carl's nephews, and the passing of my Aunt Lillian. Of course I have to add Carl's stroke in August to the bad list.
The good was being able to take a couple really neat vacations and other short excursions.
In January we went to the 'Phoenix Quilt, Craft and Sewing Festival'. This is the show I try to go to each year. It is a great place to pick up new quilting and sewing ideas and see new things. There wasn't much new stuff this year, but I think Estelle had a fun time. I was also able to take a couple classes with Kaye Wood, too!
In May we went to San Diego, CA through Fredonia, AZ and Paso Robles, CA. Carl won a free trip for 4 to Sea World the year before so we made it a week long excursion. We spent the first couple days with Kelly and family in Fredonia, then skipped through Las Vegas for a stop at the Venetian to see the living statues on our way to Paso Robles to see Trebor's family, then we met up with Spencer and kids in San Diego, CA. Of course I needed to stop at 'Quilt in a Day' before we hit our motel in San Diego. I didn't get to meet Eleanor Burns, but I did get to see her in action at her store. Carl laughing calls our vacations as 'quilt store tours' instead of vacations, LOL!
In August we went to the 'Western Legends Round-up' in Fredonia, AZ and visited with Kelly and family, too.
In September we took Estelle on the 'Maricopa Shop Hop'. We went all over the valley visiting quilt shops. I have gone on this shop hop for several years and always pick up a few neat items and ideas.
In October we went on the 'Dolly Steamboat'. It was neat trip just to be able to see another area of Arizona and the wildlife that is so abundant in this area. I think the most exciting thing we did this year was to be part of the posse at the 'Wild West Festival' in Glendale, AZ. We sat at the information booth and talked with a lot of people and had a front row seat next to one of the outdoor stages.
In November they did another 'Phoenix Quilt, Craft and Sewing Festival', but this one wasn't as good as the one in January. Loretta went with us this time. It got Carl out of the house and we both had some exercise. We also had the 'kids' and their families at the house for Thanksgiving. That was nice to have the family here.
Now that this year is at an end I need to start thinking what needs to be accomplished next year. Right now the only thing that comes to mind is a lot of quilts LOL!
Until next time,
Happy Quilting, Sharon
"Quilting the Kaye Wood Way"
Certified Instructor since 2009

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Afternoon!


Just sitting here watching 'The Rifleman'. It is one of my favorite programs of old. It wasn't long ago that Carl & I met Johnny Crawford at one of the western festivals. For those that don't know who Johnny Crawford is, he played Lucas' son, Mark.

This is a great break after tearing our bedroom apart and getting all the dust bunnies all cleaned up. With being off this week I am going to try and get the 'spring' cleaning done around here. I know it's not spring yet, but I may not feel like cleaning when spring gets here LOL!

I finished my latest quilt last night. I think it turned out really great! Now, I just need to get my camera going and get some pictures. Maybe right after I finish watching my shows......


Happy Quilting, Sharon
"Quilting the Kaye Wood Way"
Certified Instructor since 2009

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Day after Christmas!

 
Good evening one and all!
 
So now that the biggest day of the year is over for 2012, what do have you have planned for the biggest day of 2013? I always have big plans that fall by the wayside in about February, LOL! I do know that I have several unfinished projects (UFO's for those that are quiltaholics) that I would love to get done. I don't have to buy any supplies to finish a couple of them either! Right now I have a current lap quilt on the frame and I was going to get it done today, but decided that I really would rather take a nap. I just hope that I will be able to sleep tonight ;)....
 
Here I sit typing on my light weight laptop watching 'Remington
Steele' and they are working on a monster of a desk top computer.... how life has changed in just a few years.....
 
Happy Quilting, Sharon
"Quilting the Kaye Wood Way"
Certified Instructor since 2009

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

 
Merry Christmas
 
 
From our house to yours!


Happy Quilting, Sharon "Quilting the Kaye Wood Way" Certified Instructor since 2009

Monday, December 24, 2012

Happy 90th Birthday, Mom!


Today would have been my mother's 90th birthday. It is amazing to me that she left this world over 26 years ago. 

This picture is one that I have had for some time, but not sure when it was taken. The print I have was made in 1973.




Every year on her birthday we always made sure she received a birthday present as well as Christmas presents. One year she made the remark that she received more birthday presents after she was an adult than when she was a kid. 

The most memorable year is the year when all the 'kids' (my brothers, sisters, sister-in-laws, and brother-in-laws) pooled their resources and abilities and put in a drop ceiling for her in the house. It was the 'girls' job to get her out of the house the weekend before Christmas while the 'boys' did the work. You have to remember that this was way before cell phones, so somebody had to have lots of coins for pay phones to check on when we could bring her home. I remember that she was ready to go home, but the 'boys' weren't quite ready for her yet. I can't remember the ploy the 'girls' played to keep her away, but I do remember when we got home. All of us 'girls' immediately looked up to see the job the 'boys' had done, but mom just kept saying, 'Something is different.', 'What's different?', 'What did you guys do?' It took her quite some time and we had to tell her to 'look up' before she noticed. I think that was one of the best Christmas' that she had.

Another time I remember is when my sister, Lissa and I went to moms alone and gave her the birthday presents we got for her. Nothing extra special that day, just time spent with the 3 of us.

So, to continue the tradition, I just wanted to say, 'Happy Birthday, Mom!' 

Happy Quilting, Sharon 
"Quilting the Kaye Wood Way" 
Certified Instructor since 2009

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Happy Saturday!


Yippee! The car has new shocks and struts! It is amazing how well that old piece of metal is floating over the bumps in the roads. It doesn't bounce the next 1/2 mile after hittng a bump any more.... It may just last another year or two....

So now the rest of my time off is going to be playing in my sewing room or goofing off.

Today some goof off time has been spent watching 'Emergency!', 'The Rifleman', 'The Big Valley', 'Gunsmoke' and 'Bonanza'. Last night I watched 'Kojack' and 'Perry Mason'. I sure don't miss the big bill from DirecTV and the crappy shows that were on. I really can't get into reality TV. There is to much of that in my own life to want to watch somebody elses stupidity. LOL!

Am off to watch some more 'old' time shows. I sure hope you have a great weekend!

Happy Quilting, Sharon
"Quilting the Kaye Wood Way"
Certified Instructor since 2009

Friday, December 21, 2012

Good Evening Peeps!


Just figured I'd drop in and say 'Hi' to everybody..... We just finished watching, 'Double' with Richard Gere. Not a bad movie, but not one of Gere's best.... He still is a good looking man that is for sure :).....

Last weekend Carl & I managed to get the rear shocks replaced on our old Dodge Omni, this weekend we are putting new struts in the front. Each of them have challenges getting done. I just know that the back shocks sure keep the car from bouncing after driving over bumps....

I am off work until the 27th so I will get some sewing/quilting in while I am home. I have a small quilt on the frame that I want to get done and then to start another project. Right now I sure am glad that I have such a great stash of fabric. I haven't been in a fabric store in over a month and the last time I bought any, I only spent $15.00. Anybody that knows me knows that is a very skimpy haul, LOL!

Happy Quilting, Sharon
"Quilting the Kaye Wood Way"
Certified Instructor since 2009

Saturday, December 15, 2012

It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is snoring!


Yeah, it has been raining and pouring the past couple days, but thankfully the old man isn't snoring around here any more. LOL! He hasn't snored really bad since he had his heart surgery back in 2009. I remember waking him up when I put my hand on his chest or back because I couldn't hear him breathing. I was so use to him snoring and making the walls rattle that it was very hard to get use to the silence.....

Today I managed to get some more photos taken of things I have accumulated over the years that I want to sell. I am trying to get things cleaned out and put a little extra money in our pockets for bills. I post them on the Yahoo! sites that I joined and hope they go to another house to clutter up. The hardest part is getting everything downloaded and labeled on the computer. Since that is done I can go on to the easier part and maybe get them out the door.....

I am thinking of having a couple "Kaye Wood" quilt classes at my house next year. I have a large enough living room to have about 5 bodies sewing at the same time. These would be in addition to the ones that I have scheduled in Wickenburg, AZ at M's Quilting next year. It would be really nice not to have to drive some place else to teach.

We are sitting here watching 'Batman' on Me TV. What a hoot it is watching this station. We watch 'The Rifleman', 'Perry Mason', 'Bonanza', 'The Big Valley', 'Wild, Wild, West', Columbo', 'Emergency!', 'Gunsmoke', and 'Hawaii Five-O' just to name a few. It is a lot nicer than watching all of the 'real life' and talk shows that are on TV now. Most of 'The Rifleman' is filmed on a Hollywood set and it is fun to see if I can notice anything weird. This past trip to Kanab, UT to the 'Western Legends Roundup' we went on a tour in the canyon that had a 'Gunsmoke' town. It is so much fun to watch the program and see the town site we explored. This was another show that was filmed in a movie set in Hollywood more than on site.

I was just thinking of all these things on our way back from an open house that Dr. Buck and Tammy were having to celebrate their wedding, so I had to share.

I hope you all have a great week!

Happy Quilting, Sharon "Quilting the Kaye Wood Way" Certified Instructor since 2009

Thursday, December 13, 2012

12 days before Christmas 2012......

Well, how is everybody doing with all the hoopla just 12 days before the biggest day of the year? We don't have any kids home any more so it shall be quiet around here. I'm not sure yet what is going to be going on, but I know that the following week I get to take a lot of days off together. My office is closed December 24th and 25th, then again on December 30th and January 1st and I am able to take off the 3rd. I only work 3 days a week so I get to stay home from December 27 till January 7th..... I wonder what kind of trouble I can get into if Carl is back to work :o

Well, my computer just sent me a nasty gram. Not sure what has been going on with MSN on my computers. Both at home and work it keeps saying it has to 'find' something and reconnect. I haven't 'unconnected' so why do I have to 'reconnect'? Love the technology, but hate when it messes up!

Have a great weekend!

Happy Quilting, Sharon
"Quilting the Kaye Wood Way"
Certified Instructor since 2009