Life can throw you curve balls at times.......

Many years ago we left the great state of New York in part to get away from the weather. We did have a few times when we were in Arizona where we did get a layer of ice on the yard. It didn't stay around like it has around here this past week. We haven't been house bound because of snow and ice in 22 years and we were out of practice! We have a pool but as you can see here you can't really tell where it is. I don't think I shall jump in anytime soon...

Then we took a ride into town after we managed to get the van up the driveway. It really surprised me that the post office didn't have their parking lot cleaned up. It was a solid layer of ice with lots of ruts.

Nobody was ready around here to get snowed under. From what I have been told this hasn't happened in over 14 years so why would they spend the money on snow plows and salt/sand stockpile. Now I am ready for it to be over so we can get back to life without the white stuff..... Do you think I'll get my wish? 

Happy Quilting, Sharon 
Permanent "Quilting the Kaye Wood Way" Certified Instructor since 2013

Life around me.

I love looking at the White Tank Mountains. They are just west of us and I drive toward them going to work and church. We get really weird cloud cover when it is monsoon season and this is what the White Tanks looked like last weekend. The whole valley was covered with clouds.  

 

 

This is looking southeast.

 

 

 

 

 

This is looking east with the White Tanks behind me.

 

Earlier this year we had to say goodbye to an old friend. We picked up this 1989 Dodge Omni in 2009. This little friend got us to work many a day as well as taking us all over the valley for fun. We sure do miss running around in this car, but as with all good things this too ended.

 

 

Until next time,

 

Happy Quilting, Sharon

"Quilting the Kaye Wood Way"

Certified Instructor since 2009

Finally downloaded pics from my phone!

This is what it looks like out here when it storms.

 

 This is what it starts out like.

 

This is what is left behind after a dust storm.

 

 One of the sites on my way to work. Part of this field was just cut, another section had been raked and another there was bales all in perfect rows.

 

Another pic of the hay field.

 

 

Just sharing a little bit of my life and sites I see everyday. Today they were saying that it was suppose to rain, but it just got cloudy. Lots of people love it when it rains, but I don't. I miss the sun when it rains. At least when it does rain it doesn't usually last very long.

 

For information on my quilt classes scroll down a little and you will find the post. For those that are in the Phoenix, AZ area come on over and take a class. All levels of ability welcome!

 

Until next time,

 

Happy Quilting, Sharon

"Quilting the Kaye Wood Way"

Certified Instructor since 2009

Happy Memorial Day 2012

How is everybody's day going? Having cook outs? Just chillin'? Traveling? Me, I am sitting at home in front of my computer talking to all of you!  In years gone by, my mother would start planning the flowers we took to the cemeteries a couple weeks before Memorial weekend. Then one day over the holiday we would load the car up with all the urns and visit all of our family. We went to the Venice  cemetery where mom's parents were buried and Auburn cemetery where my 1/2 brother was buried. Sometimes we went to the Genoa cemetery where other family was buried. If I was still in NY I would be doing the same thing on this holiday. 

Today is a beautiful day here. Just enough heat to go with the breeze to make it nice outside. Yesterday was nice too. Not sure when the 100 degree temperature will be here to stay. Maybe my sister needs to come visit! Every time she visits we get the hot weather and it doesn't go away..... LOL!

Today is the last day of my vacation. Last week we traveled through 4 states and visited 3 of our 5 kids and their families. We had fun, but as usual we were glad to be home. I have tons of pictures and I will get them downloaded and posted sometime this week.  For now I am off to see what trouble I can get into in my sewing room. 

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

Good Evening All!

What a beautiful day it was today. I really wanted to go out and play instead of being cooped up inside working... Today was sit at the front desk day. Most of the time it is okay, but there are moments when I don't think I can sign in another person and do everything else that needs to be done. 

It is really nice when I get a few extra things done before I head out the door in the morning, but that didn't happen today. Tomorrow I have the morning to get things done then I will go visiting my church 'sisters'. It will be nice to get to know some of the ladies in my church. I really want to get another purse done and get all my stuff on Artfire. That should take care of the rest of the day and keep me out of trouble.

Until next time, 

Happy Quilting, Sharon 

"Quilting the Kaye Wood Way" 

Certified Instructor since 2009

Good Evening Everyone~~~

How is everybody doing so far this month? I understand that Alaska has been hit real hard with lots and lots of snow.... and now it is in the lower 48. I feel for all of you that are getting all this white stuff. I continue to be thankful for the lack of such stuff here....

I can't believe that the first month of 2012 is close to 1/2 over.... The sad part of that is, I haven't gotten as much done around here as I had planned. Isn't that the way it usually goes? Just like resolutions, gone in the first week.

We are still loving our new 'digs'.... With so much room we often get lost :D.... The only thing we don't have here is a linen closet. I'm not sure yet how I am going to solve that problem. Right now I have a rack set up with some stuff on it, but it really doesn't look the best.... I'd really like a nice cupboard or medium sized dresser, but have been unable to find one that I really like. We also keep looking for a couch and love seat or sectional couch for the 'formal' living room. Everything we pick out is way to expensive. I can't believe that Salvation Army secondhand store wanted $500.00 for a sectional couch... That's not in my budget, thank you very much! One of our favorite secondhand stores had a 'going out of business' sign the last time we were there. I guess times are tough on all types of businesses. 

I have started cleaning out some stuff in my sewing room this week. Just trying to get everything organized so I can find things. Of course I made a trip to one of my favorite stores, Tuesday Morning, this past week. I have been good and not purchased any 'extra' fabrics for awhile, but I had to grab a few pieces the last time I was there. They always have some neat fabric designs and I just can't resist them... I already have an idea for a cute quilt using this fabric too! It also will be made with a Starmaker ruler by Kaye and that is a double plus in my book! I am also going to visit Kaye and do another class with her this next Wednesday... then the following week is the Phoenix Quilt, Craft and Sewing Festival. I think I shall be broke at the end of the month....

WhooHoo! I just noticed that this is post #100!

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

Happy Turkey Week!

Boy, I can't believe I haven't been here since the beginning of the month! I sure have been busy otherwise! 

First off we have rented a new place! It is twice the size of the place we are in and I shall have a single room just for my machines and 'stuff'! Yippee! This new place also has a pantry! Not very big, but much bigger than the one we don't have now :).... 4 bedrooms, an eat in kitchen, family room and living room with a 2 car garage.... We shall be in room heaven! 

The next thing I noticed was my visitor counter has gone haywire! I don't think that I have had 447587 visitors~~~~ I just had a giveaway for the 10,000 visitor... I think I just may need to correct that number. I wish I had that many visitors, but lets get real here..

I finally managed to get to the Temple site this weekend. Oh my! We have great progress so you must go on over to 'My Spiritual Side' and check it out.

I also set up at a craft fair this past Saturday. It was a nice day--a little cool, but not to much. I did a decent job of selling little things, towels and wine vests were the main sellers. I guess I need to get more of them up on Artfire and have on hand for other craft fairs. I won't be doing any more this year because of the move. I am going to have a hard enough time getting any extra gifts done as it is. As usual I am procrastinating....

Well, I am off to 'My Spiritual Side' for awhile. Thanks for visiting and come back often.

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

Fun the past week or so~~~~

Lots has been going on since the last post. 

First I have to say congratulations to Lee and Tango for winning the 10,000 posts! I'm sorry I didn't get back on sooner to let you both know! I will notify you with through your links in case you don't come visit in the next couple of days!

Next, is a picture of my view when I am driving to our Goodyear office. I try to look at the mountains each morning because they tell me what type of complaints I will be getting from my patients during the day. As you can see it is pretty clear on this trip and the symptom complaints were minimal.

Now this picture tells a different story! We went out to supper tonight and this is what we walk out into when we left the restaurant. Not a pretty site that is for sure!

Only 2 of us in the Glendale office dressed up for Halloween. It wasn't planned that we both were cowgirls either!




On Saturday we went to see the Arizona Symphony with Kenny Rogers. Carl wins neat stuff from work every once in awhile and these tickets were the BEST! I have never heard a symphony live before and they were great! It amazed me watching the conductor the way he used his whole body to let the orchestra know just want he wanted from them. So cool!

Then Kenny Rogers came on stage....... He may be up there in years, but boy can he still sing the songs. Great performer and a great show.

While I am here posting I will go on over to the 'Spiritual Side' and post the last pics of the Temple that I took 2 weeks ago. I have to confess that I have not been up there since and I'm not sure if we will make it up there this weekend or not. Both Carl & I have felt the effects of the dust storm tonight. Grit in the mouth, sinus pressure, ear pressure, sneezing and of course the usual cough. The worst part of these storms is that it kicks up the fungi that causes Valley Fever. I don't want to get that, but you can't avoid it when this wind is carrying all of this dust. We'll just have to watch each other for the next few weeks for the usual flu symptoms and get to the doc. This stuff hangs on and you have to have a long course of antibiotics to take care of it. I think this is one of the down sides of living in the 'Valley of the Sun'.... 

I guess I could have been in NY snowed in this past weekend.... at least here I'm not cold.... LOL!

Until next time

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

"GO" cutter give away.....

I was not the lucky winner of this quilting gadget..... Oh well, I'll try again if it comes up!!

The weather has been great this past week or so. We are in the mid to high 70's during the day and going down in the 40's at night! This is why I live here!


Happy Quilting, Sharon

"Quilting the Kaye Wood Way" Certified Instructor since 2009

SNOW!!!!

Can you believe it? Snow in Arizona!! Yes, I said SNOW! We were watching TV last Sunday night when the thunder and lightning started then we heard this weird noise on the roof. This is the results of that 'weird' noise!

This one is out the front door with Carl's footprint in it.

This one is of the front yard just in front of the footprint.

This is one out our back Arcadia sliding glass doors.

This one is also the back yard, but out further and showing the oranges on the ground under the orange tree. Carl was trying to protect the camera from getting wet. After the white stuff fell, it started raining. I tried getting a picture of the neighbors yards, but my flash just didn't reach that far.... Within a week our temps were back up and it turned into the usual Arizona winter weather just the way I like it.

Not much else going on around here. I have been able to get some sewing done. This past couple of weeks I have been working on an embroidery project. I'm not sure how well the first one will turn out, but if it works out okay I am going to make a few more for Christmas presents. So shhhhh, don't tell the grand-kids.....

I am on the calendar at Sally's Fabrics in Mesa to teach quilting classes once a month. I'm trying to get some more ideas going and work up the samples so that I can have several different classes going. I have one sewn together, I just need to get the label on it. Labels are such a pain and I always put them off to the last minute.

Well, husband just asked me to breakfast so I must get cleaned up. Have a great day everyone!

Happy Quilting,
Sharon

Today IS THE day!!!!

Good morning all! Today is THE day for Julie to get married. It is wet and cold here right now. I sure hope it doesn't rain like it is predicted to..... At least it is under cover even though it is outside. Pictures will follow after the deed is done and I get back to Arizona.

Happy Quilting!
Sharon
www.coyotequilts.com