A Night at the Beach

Tonight we met our Growth Group at Tamarack Beach for dinner and a bonfire. The weather was perfect since it had been hot all day. There were tons of people at the beach and parking was nigh on to impossible, but Dan found a spot finally. We ate together and then at dusk, lit a lovely bonfire and sat around it to sing. Two of our guys, Tom and Fred, brought their guitars and Chuck held the flashlight over their music and we sang. It was lovely. Carrie even stopped by for a while after she had shared dinner with Ash and Chris. Ashley made her yummy enchiladas. I'm going to miss those when she's at Cal Poly Pomona - just about four weeks from now! She's decided to live with Carrie and Emily for the first quarter and is busy making lists of things to pack and buy. So, we are easing out of summer and into the fall. The cycle continues.

The Latest

It's been a quiet weekend - I ended up feeling poorly yesterday and we didn't go to visit Dan's mom or have dinner with Don & Tracy. So frustrating; I have had yesterday planned for about four weeks. We'll have to reschedule with everyone. This morning Bubba and Barnacle Butt went to breakfast, so I was up early and cutting fabrics to complete my applique quilt. Was watching "When Harry Met Sally," which is always good for a laugh or two. Then, Bubba and I went to two grocery stores and now home for the day. We'll BBQ tonight. Ash is off for the day with Chris, who just returned from his vacation in Sweden. He's understandably jet-lagged, but had a great time there. We'll stay inside and try to keep cool. Summer is almost over! Bought two autumn wreaths at Joanne's (there was a two-fer); one is for Peggy's door and the other is on my front door already.

Fixed!

Yay, the a/c is fixed; it just needed a new fuse. Pretty good day today - kept busy in my office preparing a big client mailing and cleaning up the database. Dan's at a board meeting, Ashley is reading on our bed, and I am getting ready to change for the gym. Tom next door is doing his nightly drumming exercises (ugh). EVERY night at 7 p.m.!

It's Hot!

Came home from work today and the house was HOT! Apparently, the a/c is not working. This is a serious problem compounded by menopause. Repair man coming tomorrow; hope it doesn't cost an arm and a leg. We have already repaired two vehicles and covered a HUGE vet bill this month. When it rains, it pours - cats and dogs. Oh, well; at least we both have jobs. Excuse me, I'm going to bed under the fan now. ZZZZZzzzzzzz . . .

Ah, French Food

Today the kids and I saw the movie, "Julie & Julia" and it was enjoyed by two out of three of us. Meryl did an outstanding job of impersonating Julia Child and it was very interesting to see bits of Paris and bits of Queens as well. I really don't know how Julie managed to cook in that tiny, uninspiring kitchen of hers in the apartment over the pizza joint. That alone was impressive. Bon apetit!

They Quilt in Oslo, Too

I was just visiting the Bunnyhill Designs blog (see the link at the left) and Anne Sutton has a lot of quilting blogs that she follows listed there. So, I picked one and, lo and behold, it was this darling store in Oslo, Norway. OK, so I had to Google Oslo to see what country it was in - I need to travel more. It sort of looked Swedish, so I pursued it since Ashley's Chris is there now. They have some of the same fabrics that I see in stores here, so that was cool to learn. This yo yo pillow caught my eye because my friend Joyce has been collecting red and white fabrics and made 500 yo yos to make a red and white yo yo quilt. I haven't seen the finished project, but I saw her making a lot of yo yos! She had this cool thing that she wrapped the circle of fabric around that had holes where you put your needle. I'll have to try that sometime. But, perhaps will just make this pillow so I don't have to make 500 yo yos. I love the button accents, too. Sew something today - they are in Oslo!

Friday!

Wow, I am home alone for a few hours this evening! This is something that seldom happens. Ash is up at Carrie's for the weekend and Bubba is with Barnacle Butt in Escondido for dinner and to see the classic cars they have on Friday nights. All day at work, I kept thinking of all the stuff I could do by myself at home tonight. But, on a Friday night, all I can muster is doing some laundry and holding the remote. I rented "New in Town" and am in the middle of it now - it's OK, but so cute the way they talk in Minnesota. I work with a gal from there and they sound exactly like her! (Though I don't think I would tell her that.) Anyway, I'll be glad when the family returns soon. Lucy and I don't like it too quiet around here.

Hey, Cupcake!

The August quilt block of the month by Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs is out! Cupcakes stacked in the traditional monthly basket - so cute. Talked with Sister Sue last night about it and am sending her copies - we are both making these blocks and it's been fun. Now, we just need to get Sister Karen in on the fun as well. She is enjoying her last days of summer as school is on the horizon. Live them well, Karen - enjoy every minute. Let's all do that even if we are late for work . . .

A Great Weekend

Well, it was certainly the weekend that was - what with celebrating Dan's birthday yesterday, church, special breakfast today, then running errands and finally a lovely dinner out with friends. The restaurant is on Harbor Island near the San Diego Airport and we had a window table over the water so it felt almost like we were on a boat. We ate a delicious dinner while watching the boats go by. Hmmmm, gotta get a boat - that looks so fun. Carrie is staying over an extra night to visit the dentist tomorrow and Ashley is saying goodbye to Chris who is headed to vacation in Sweden for two weeks on Friday. He will be seeing his family - cousins, aunts, uncles, mom and dad, etc. in the land where he was born and raised until he was 16 and they moved to Thousand Oaks. So, work tomorrow . . . sigh.

Happy Birthday Dan!

Today is Dan's birthday and we are celebrating by taking him to lunch and then shopping for some new duds. Guys are SO hard to buy for and he is no exception. But, he does need clothes and this will be fun. Poor Ashley has to work today and possibly tomorrow on a project with a deadline next week, so she will have to miss our expedition. Carrie is driving down as I write this. Dan is out with the Growth Group Guys monthly breakfast and I am home alone. Well, Lucy is with me - thanks for the love, Luce! Anyway, here is a picture of Dan as a young un - so cute!