2015 Dose of Vitamin D

(NOTE:  This post was begun in February 2015.  I haven't been able to adjust date of entry, so just please keep in mind, it's one more UFO that I'm getting completed in 2016!)  RENOTE:  I have discovered how to set the time back, I think...so this should have been dated Feb. 2015, and I hope it is so now!  
Using this color text to show you what the last two weeks looked like to these two vitamin D deficient New Jerseyans.  We had both been building up aching joints and decided a dose of sun was just what the proverbial doctor ordered.

We were not sorry to turn our backs on the snow, ice and sub zero temperatures!

27 Feb., Friday:  Landing in Orlando wearing winter coats, we looked at each other and that smile didn't leave our faces!  We grabbed up our rental car - a brand new Kia Sorrento - very nice but reeaallly difficult to see out of - and drove to the Cocoa Beach Holiday Inn.  Moved into our beautiful suite and then went next door to the supermarket for a bottle of wine and some bits and bobs for dinner. 
28 Feb., Saturday:  After a satisfying breakfast we drove the whole 3 or 4 blocks to find our condo....were surprised how close it was,  and then since we had time to kill until our 3:00 check in, we drove around and then had lunch at Beef O'Brady.  Great food.  Our lovely young server advised us to be sure not to miss dinner at Grills.  (More about that later.)
Back to the condo, we got in, were delighted with the place and once we'd moved in we went back to the market to do some shopping.
Temps in the 70's = we could not have been more pleased despite some heavy rain. 

Living room sliders opened to the pool and right off the beach!
1 March, Sunday:  about 77 degrees, lovely sun.  Such lovely sun!!  We walked the beach, spent time in the pool and in the evening got to watch a launch.

Standing just behind our building, halfway onto the beach, we had a prime location to watch.  For us, it was quite a thrill.
2 March, Monday:  We enjoyed a visit from friends Joe and Linda.  We were hoping for a pool day, but as they didn't bring their suits, we chatted, had a relaxing lunch, walked the beach and just enjoyed catching up.  Later, we had dinner together at the near-by pier.

3 March, Tuesday:  81 degrees - perfect day for beach walk and pool time.

4 March, Wednesday:  a bit higher temperatures, perfect blue skies.  Since I was to miss a quilt show in Lancaster, we decided to feed my fabric hunger with a trip to a local quilt shop.  On the way, I noticed a Bell's Store and we dropped in and astonishingly I was able to replace my tired bathing suit easily and quickly.  Gotta love a store that can do that!  Then on to The Quilt Place, 575 Barton Blvd. Rockledge.  Click it  There I found over 8,000 square feet of fabric and all that goes with it.  Wow!  What a great shop.  When I was checking out, the sales person suggested we check out their other shop, Fabric...Fabric...Fabric at 1235 Florida Ave., Rockledge.  Glad we did!  $8 and under for all their fabric.  Some great selections. At The Quilt Place I bought some patterns, one is for this quilt which we both fell in love with.

On the road again, we decided to seek out the pier where Grills is located.  What a super place!  Their menu boasts that even non fish lovers will love their fish dishes.  Unbeliever that I am, I ordered shrimp scampi, Lar ordered the mahi.  Oh, my!  when I tasted his, I had to fight the impulse to grab his plate and run!  Cannot recommend more highly.  Grills click here

Back "home".

Yikes!

5 March, Thursday:  The thermometer at the pool registered well over 100 degrees!  Wonderful, relaxing pool day.
6 March, Friday:  Larry's first Spring Training Day!  Port St. Lucy for a Mets/Tigers game at Tradition Stadium. Play Ball!

7 March, Thursday:   

After the game, we met an old friend, Kim and her husband at Steak and Shake for dinner.  It was such a treat to see Kim after so many years.  She always could make me laugh!

 The few items of foodstuffs we were left with were gratefully passed along to neighbors.  Why throw them out?

The last day, I made sure to take a few pictures to show the condition in which we were leaving our temporary digs.  Guess I'm anal, but I like to cover my bases. 






WE'RE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!

A number of years ago (like about 10 or 15) we bought three 4 day Life time tickets to Disneyland Parks.  We used 3 days and the sales person assured us they'd really be lifetime.  Two or three times since, Larry forgot them and each time I would dramatically say, "oh, well, (sigh) I just guess you'll have to bring me back again."
This time I called the park, described the passes and was assured that they would, indeed, honor them.  We put the ratty little tickets into Lar's wallet so he wasn't likely to forget them, and this is what we got in their place.  Easily. No problem.  We paid about $25 for each at the time.  They have quadrupled in value!

Dealing with UFOs!

To some, UFOs are figments of the imagination.  To others, UFOs are unlikely but possible realities.
To Quilters, UFOs are Un Finished Objects....projects begun, projects on hold.
I have a ton of them!
Some are things I actually began and for one reason or other they never were completed.
Some are things I "inherited" - whether from relatives who passed or from friends, or from "free to a good home" giveaway tables....some I don't even remember.
2016 has become the year to get them done.  For some reason I just know I'll make a huge dent this year and by so doing, relieve myself of the guilt of having them piled up and needing attention.
Some of them include:

Early last year I made arrangements to go up state to meet with the daughters of a old family friend who was going into assisted living.  She had been a quilter, and I was buying her serger and embroidery machine as well as some other items.
During the visit, the daughters discovered this little lap quilt Betty had begun some years before and had misplaced.  I offered to take it home and finish the hand quilting for her so she could enjoy it in her new home.
I had a couple of days to quilt on it before we went away for a few weeks.  During the time we were away, Betty died.  I was so saddened, and it took me almost all year to pick the quilt back up and finish quilting it.  In January 2016 it was completed and sent off to California to her daughters.

 I bought this bird panel a couple of years ago at a quilt show.  It was a double panel and the first one I sewed together to make it all one, rather than the individual bird squares...the tree parts matched up fairly well.  And then....no idea what to do with it.  For Christmas 2015 I decided to make the second part of the panel into Attic Windows for Larry.  Got it completed in January this year.  He loves it!

 Not technically a UFO, a class held by my quilt guild in November 2015 which I didn't get to attend due to the cursed Dry Socket caper.  But I had the fabric all set and knew what I meant to make, so I'm slipping it into the UFO category.  Only got to make 4...2 for our own use and 2 for the children next door, with their names.  

 Again, not entirely UFO except that it was so well formed in my head that I felt it was a given it was getting made for oldest son.  4th and 6th Quilt Designs - two sisters who were in that birth order, 4th and 6th - spoke at our quilt guild, Love Apple Quilters, about an applique technique they'd come up with and I immediately knew I'd like to try it with this design.  Worked pretty well for a first attempt.  I give you, David Bowie.

 I'd made the first square early in 2015.  It was destined to be a quilt for our second Grand daughter, but I feared it would remain one square, on the design wall.  Got it done for Christmas 2015.

 Have had the fabrics and design (Let's Twist) for one mantle cover...but having the fabric and design does not a mantle cover, or anything make without the actual activity of sewing.  Done for Valentines Day 2016.

 Have had the fabric and the design (from Poorhouse Designs) to make a mug rug for best friend.  Actually got it done for Valentines Day 2016.  Yay.

 The second mantle covered for Valentines Day 2016.  Fabrics used and done.

 I believe it was 2014 when I got some fabric and semi done projects from a lady who wasn't going any further with them.  Most of what I got I passed on in fabric or quilt form to one of my quilt guilds.  The one above was the fish panel, bordered with the sea weed fabric and with the yarns and fibers sewn in at the bottom seam.  Knew exactly what I wanted to do with it, and when I explained to oldest son he was so excited about the project and said, "Wow! I'd love that!"  I knew it had to happen.  That summer we spent a week at the beach together and while there I accumulated shells, drift wood, a sinker, etc., which are incorporated into the wall hanging.  Gave it to him when completed, January 2016.

 This little Asian inspired kimono wall hanging is another of the same lady's undone projects.  It is still on my to do list for THIS Year!!

 The label for Betty's little quilt.

The bird panels sewn together.  Still have no idea what to do with it...but whatever it is I decide...gotta happen this year.

 A small quilt that my brother's mother in law had made.  Never got it quilted...I inherited it.  Wasn't sure what to do...but then my brother's boy got engaged over the holidays.  Think I'll get it quilted as a gift for the couple.  Plan a label to tell it's history.

 For a number of years I accumulated homespun fabric....found a pattern, found a shop that had made one exactly as I'd like to make mine.  It's piled...and would like to see it a quilt by end of year.

 Hubby bought me this kit two years ago - Lucille Ball inspired pattern.  Gorgeous fabric.  Want it done!!!

 Gotta be at least 3 years ago, maybe 4 when I made a few of these wall hangings.  It needs to say "Behold a Star" and then quilted.  Let's say for Christmas 2016.

 Lots, not sure just how many squares I've made...some were part of a block of the month from Craftsy....that need to be combined and incorporated into something.  Still a few of the BOMs to be made.  Even if I reduce the pile by end of year, I'll be delighted!!!

 In 1991 I belonged to Online Quilters on Prodigy.  This collection of fabric was from our Ugliest Fabric swap.  I've always known what I want to make with it.  Why haven't I done it?  No idea.  Let's make this the year!

One of my Aunt Martha's stash of items I inherited.  I've completed a number of them, but this one is still a hold - out....stamped white squares that simply need to be assembled and quilted on the stamped lines.  I intend to do free motion quilting on them....maybe this'll be the year.

So there are just a sampling of the goals in sewing/quilting I've set for the year.  Because I've accomplished as much as I have in the last two months, I feel good about my chances of making progress.  And I'll try to keep myself "honest" by blogging.  Thanks for reading....check back from time to time...see if I'm staying busy!

Long Hiatus....Sorry

I'm really blue....I never meant to be away so long!  I sometimes come across a blog that has been unattended for a long period of time, and I wonder - What happened?  Illness?  Busy-ness? 
Well, dear friends, I am even wondering about my own blog and my own absence.
One reason for it is that Blogger changed some things and I didn't feel comfortable trying to figure it all out.  And path of least resistance...that made it easier to leave it for "later".
Today I waded through difficulties even signing on, and perhaps that is a step in the right direction.  2016 ought to see me back at it. 
I want to finish my travelogue from our wonderful trip, and I have in mind reporting on all the UFOs that will be getting themselves F'd. 
Before you get too excited....those are quilts and other Unfinished Objects which are getting themselves Finished!
We had a major snow storm last week, and that meant I had every excuse to hole up and sew, sew, sew.

My Man pretty much disappeared in the snow while using the snow blower!

 A Christmas ornament given to me by a friend felt right at home in the sewing room window as the blizzard raged!

 A friend's quilt - I promised to finish...and I finally did!

 Hubby's Christmas present - completed in January....some of the tardiness was because he kept "dropping in" on me to see what I was up to - and it was supposed to be a surprise. 

 A class given by Love Apple Quilters - they are ornament shaped, can be hung or used as placemats.

 An old friend had begun to embroider these....I finished the embroidery and just got the trim and eyelet attached.  They look so pretty in my guest/sewing room.

And today I finished up this Fold 'n Stitch Wreath Centerpiece for St. Patrick's Day.  Want to make a Valentines Day one as well.

 

 

 

5th - 6th October 2013 Tuscany

The 5th of October dawned rainy and we took the time to relax indoors - kicked back to read and I got a lot of sewing done on my Halloween table runner.  Whenever I use it, I will picture it in this room, looking out onto the vineyards! Josie kindly brought us tea which was just the thing to ward off the chill.

 Later in the day, we enjoyed a private wine tasting.  I believe there were at least 7 bottles we tried....and we liked them all!  The simple repast with which we paired them was just the ticket!  I attempted to keep track, matching them each with people we wanted to buy for....and for ourselves.  It got more difficult with each tasting!

 

 

 When dinner time came, we were full up - wine and food.  I had to skip several courses, and cut back considerably on the various wines! 

Sunrise the next day found us packing for the next leg of our trip.  Sunrise was beautiful but a little sad...we surely enjoyed our time in Tuscany.

Dear Josie...she of the sweet smile and a heart as big as the world.  I completed our packing and became aware of the fact that I was feeling less than up to par.  Coughing.
We found we were able to drive car up to the front steps, saving me a lot of effort in getting our cases back to the car, but the steps down inside were frightful and I fell on my backside with the cases!

 Josie was saddened to see us go, and our last view of the b&b was of Christina waving goodbye.
Between my jotted notes and the GPS, we were pretty easily able to get to the drop off for the car.  Florence entailed crazy driving, and one time I told Larry that he was driving in the bus lane.  While he felt it was like at home and was okay, I reported to him that the signs didn't sound like that was the case.  (Found out later - substantial fine received in the mail when we were home!)
At the car drop off I finally saw the dreaded toilet hole in the floor!  I'd been dreading them for years, unsure as to how one used one.  I really  wish I'd taken a picture.  But then, perhaps you, dear reader, are glad I didn't!  Mystery gone.
We got a taxi to the train station, driver was a really super lady.  We had nearly an hour wait, most of which was taken up by an elderly man begging.  He must have asked us 20 times for alms.
Getting onto the train was quite the experience.  We had to drag our cases up the steps - with Larry unable to do much - and once in the train there was absolutely no place for the cases!  Everyone and their luggage were jammed in the aisles.  A man originally from North Jersey and now Atlanta got our bags up and into seats next to us each.  Each time the train lurched or made sharp turns, the case next to me would flop over onto me.  This train ride was not at all what I've heard about.  But it got us where we were going.  And quickly!