A Good Week After All

Just got home from our five day trip to the coast. All unpacked and ready for bed. But first a quick post to document a really good trip.

We left Monday morning pulling our little blue and white trailer headed for the coast. Golfing for Mr. SS, sewing for me, and whatever we wanted to do in between.

We had just passed a big truck (I have to close my eyes  when we do this...no I literally duck my head)

I heard a loud bang and then flap, flap flap. Then Mr. SS caught on to my panic as he looked in the rear view mirror...yep a flat tire.

He pulled over and worked for over an hour trying to loosen the lug bolts. No luck, bless his heart. It was 90 degrees out and both our freshly showered bodies were dripping in sweat. 

He said, we just had to drive slow as we still had 3 good tires. Yeah, that made me feel better.

God was with us, we put on our flashers and drove slowly to New Cuyama. We always stop there for lunch on our way to the coast.

We pulled up in front and went in, asking the waitress if there was any place in town we could get a tire changed. No, there wasn't. Everyone in the place was just kinda staring at us. I was about to cry, when a young man who was sitting with a group of 4 men stepped up and said. We can take care of it for you. Follow us to our farm about a mile from here.

Whew, I said to Dennis, can I stay here where it's cool and get a diet coke. Sure, he said and off they went.

Then I kinda panicked and thought, what if they kidnapped him or something. He didn't have much cash on him as I carry that, but we have that big red truck and our pretty little blue and white trailer. 

My mind was running wild. So I called one of my sons and expressed my concern. He said just call him...oh why didn't I think of that. He was on his way back and tire was changed. Those nice men would not even take a penny for their help. God was with us.

This is what our tire looked like in the back of our truck. The wheel wasn't even damaged. God was with us!

We are responsible RV'rs. We have roadside assistance, but it would have taken hours for them to get to us. I could just hear the phone call, "You are in New What?" 

Now another hour and we were ready to head for the coast once again.

WAIT! We weren't upset enough to have lost our appetite. You have to know Mr. SS to know, he does not miss many meals. So we ordered. When his came...no fries? Forgotten the tire already. "Where are my fries?"

My salad was perfect as is.

Tuesday, Mr. SS golfed and I made more curtains for the trailer. Not a good picture, and they didn't turn out like I planned, but I like them. They were supposed to be pinch pleated with covered buttons on the pleats, but the pattern I used was way too full even though I had made adjustments, to do the pleats and buttons.

I used the same Pam Kitty fabric i used on all the smaller windows. I just wanted the ones for over the dining table and sitting area to be different. This picture shows the ones I had already made.

We BBQ'd the second night. Our first BBQ of the season. Guess what we had. Yep...hamburger with all the fixin's. They tasted sooo good.

Wednesday we went to Grover Beach to see our friends that live there. Carol took me to a Farmers Market close by. This is just some of the goodies I got. Those shelled sugar snap peas are the best. They are good just as a snack or in a salad, but Mr.SS won't eat them that way. So the next night we BBQ'd chicken and I made brown rice and a salad. I threw some of the peas in the rice. So, so good.

After we left our friends house, we drove to San Luis Obispo and had lunch at the Apple Farm. Then we drove to Morro Bay and on  a little north to Cuyucas. It is the cutest little town right on the beach. I called it a sleepy little town and Mr. SS asked what that meant. I said no one is in a hurry...NOT. We were slowly driving by a place called Brown Sugar Cookie when a truck honked and raced around us. Guess you have those people everywhere. 

We had read about an RV park there on the side of the hill overlooking the ocean. We loved the place and are already planning our next trip to the coast and staying at Bella Vista.

Tomorrow it's back to normal. We are off to Irvine to watch our Kobi play Volleyball and Sunday to Taft for baseball. I also have to squeeze in making a sweet 8 yr. old a birthday dress in the next two days.

                                                    

A Quick Road Trip and A Few of My Favorite Things

Last week we found out Mr. SS's sister who lives in Oregon was really ill. I packed our bags while he was at work and we left to make the very long trip. After spending the night in Sacramento with my cousin, we left early the next morning. It was not  to be a fun trip like the one we took almost exactly a year ago to Washington and Oregon, but as we were driving and feeling anxious about what we would find at the end, we couldn't help seeing evidence of God's Glory.

We both felt the peace He was giving us as we drove through northern California and then on to Oregon.

This is Mt. Shasta. I had a hard time getting a picture as there are so many tall trees, but with patience, I found an opening and snapped this.

In Oregon (of course, because it doesn't rain this much in California) we hit some really heavy rain, but as it cleared God showed us a beautiful rainbow. It was a full half circle and actually a double one, but the second one barely shows. At one point it seemed to drop down on the highway right in front of us.

A little later as the sun went down, the clouds cleared up enough for us to see this. I wasn't patient enough with this picture, though because as we passed a small body of water, the sunset was reflected as a mirror image on the water. I said to Mr. SS that I put my camera down too quickly. Just goes to show, you gotta keep it ready when there is so much beauty all around.

With out going into too much detail, Sis was not doing well at all, but the blessing was that she knew we were there and even though she couldn't talk, we knew she could understand much of what we said.

After getting home, going to a basketball game and two baseball games, I had to get to work.

I had started some chair covers for a friend that were way overdue.

This is one of her chairs. I had 4 covers to do.

I finished them this morning.

They are made from a painters drop cloth. I have read and seen so much about using theses for slipcovers and curtains, but have never used one before. If you are okay with a distressed look and some flaws in the fabric, it is and inexpensive way to go. The weight and off white color is great too.

This is the picture my friend, Sally gave me. I had to do the back a little different because of the way her chair was made, but I think they came out pretty much the same.

Soooo, this afternoon, I got to go to my favorite quilt store Strawberry Patches and get a pattern and fabric for a birthday dress for sweet little Emmy Lou, who will be 6 on March 7th. She came running up to me at the basketball game and was counting off the days til her birthday. She said she wanted me to make her a dress, so, I sew.

I've made this dress before for a model, and she saw it  and loved the bows on it, so that's what I picked, I went with this peach for something a little different from my favorite reds and blues.

These are for a great niece that wants a purple and blue apron.

Suzanne showed these on facebook a few weeks ago, so while I was there I got some "just because" they are cute and it's almost Easter. I haven't a clue what I'll make, but I'll share here when I do.

Lastly, I bought a piece of flesh colored fabric to make a doll. Right before Christmas I went on a hunt for a pattern for a doll to make. I finally came up with this book. I don't know when I will have time, but I just know I want to make a doll. Suzanne and I started out making dolls to sell. Funny thing, in my Internet searching, I came across a vintage pattern (probably 1975)on Ebay for the doll we made. Wish I had a picture. We made the doll and different clothes and sold hundreds of them.

Well, I have rattled on way too long. I miss posting regularly like I used to so you may see me a little more often.

                                                 

Where Did October Go??

Honestly, it was just September and school was starting. How is it that it is almost the end of October?

I found this picture on Houzz some time ago and wanted to share. It has so many of the things I love.

Pumpkins (and gourds)
Fall color
Rocking Chair
Red and White Quilt
Pillow
Vintage table and chair
Vintage tool box
Porch
Radio Flyer wagon
Shutters
Click on Houzz above and there are lots of other autumn porches to admire, but if I had a porch, I would want it to look just like this one.

Besides dreaming of  fall porches, October brought with it busy and fun times.
The first weekend, as I mentioned in my last post, we took our little blue trailer to the coast.
Grandson Cade had a baseball tournament.
We watched lots of baseball.

Cousin Kyle, the college guy came to see all of Cousin Cade's games.

 We got to our favorite little RV park in Santa Maria a day early, so I had plenty of time to play house and do a little decorating.
First thing was to put my checkerboard tablecloth on my little vintage table.

 Of course anytime there is game playing going on there has to be snacks.
(Got to use my little refrigerator jar and blue mason jar from target)
I lined a little basket I had for the the buttons  checkers.

 I displayed some new finds from the last coast trip in my little corner cabinet.
along with the towel my friend Carol gave me.
Can you see the little trailer ornament on the top shelf. Friend Gail gave me that.
Guess I should have lemons in the bowl instead of bananas. I was going for yellow and that was what I had.

 I even had time to sew two more curtains. One for each side of our slideout that holds the table and chairs and our comfy rockers.

 Just as I knew they would, Cade and Kobi sat down for a game a checkers as soon as they got there.

 We managed to find time for a visit to Avila Barn and oh my! There were pumpkins and more pumpkins. These were a row of some of the unusual ones.

 I picked out three for the picnic table at our camp site.

One of the best parts of our trip though, was getting to meet up with one of my best blogging friends,sweet Annelies of Sew Blessed. We met at Quilting Cousins and had a lovely lunch with her husband afterwards.  

 While at Quilting cousins, I snapped a picture of this quilt. The border has little camping trailers on it, but of course the fabric was all gone...a girl can dream.

Besides two grandsons playing fall baseball, it has also been busy times watching volleyball, basketball, and soccer. No one playing or coaching football this year though. Can't remember that every happening before.

Lexi ask me to help her make a poodle skirt for Halloween. I agreed, only to find out that 3 of her sisters wanted one too. I asked Lexi if she would do all four. You know what...she did. They are all done. She cut them out and all I did was supervise and help out when she got into trouble. I also did the poodle appliques and basted the zippers. She was a trooper and came up every spare minute she had.

 She got to be the first to use my new scallop scissors. They made the perfect edging for the bottom of the skirts.

 I also made a Dorothy from Oz dress for granddaughter Kobi and a Roman queen costume for a school project for her. I couldn't get the patterns I needed in her sizes, so I winged it.
They turned out pretty good.

I also attended a wedding yesterday. I intended to get more pictures as I got to help with the reception decorations, but the only picture I got was of this beautiful tree, the couple was married under.
It is out by the Kern River (dry river bed you can see behind tree)

I love to leave with something to make you smile, and in my world that is always our Emmy Lou.
She got to ride by herself for the first time. She usually has Daddy leading the horse or is riding with a sibling.
Belle is such a good horse. She is as old as "dirt" as they say, but so gentle and just took her around and around the corral. Miss Emmy Lou thought she was such big stuff.

I will be back to show you pics of the Halloween costumes.

Then next week I fly to Kentucky to visit my aunt who is having some health issues. Hope to get some fall color pictures to post and some barn quilts...how I love barn quilts.



God is Good!!
Life is Good!!

How Hot Is It??

Thank goodness it has cooled down the last couple of days. We got back to Bakersfield earlier this week to 110 degrees. I'm telling you, I just don't function well when it is soooo hot. Today is better at only near 100.

Hope it not unbearable where you are. I know it has been hot many places across the country.

It's a good thing I got  some sewing done before we left Chino last week, because I have only done one small project since I've been home. I've been playing with my kids and that's about all.

Last week I did get a couple of dresses done though. My sewing area in the Blue and White just works so well.

Remember I showed you the pattern and fabrics.

One for Camy

One for Lexi

I stacked the buttons on both of them again...like I did on the yellow and white top I made from this same pattern.  With just 2 colors, they show up a little better, I think.

When they picked out the fabric at Strawberry Patches I forgot to get a trim for the straps and skirt.

I had plain ribbon, but you know me by now...I can't do plain.

While we were still in Oxnard, I went on line and found a place in Ventura that said they had lots of trims, so Mr. SS drove me down there after work one day and I found this cute pleated ribbon...just what I was looking for.

The girls loved them and will wear them the first day of school next Monday.

We are off to Tehachapi for a little dose of  Warrior Football.

Our grandson, Kyle is a senior and plays center. I'm really teary eyed  just thinking about him being a senior. It seems only yesterday, my sons played Warrior Football.

I guess it's a sign of age when we wonder "Where did time go?"

Wishing you a "cool" weekend.

God is Good!!

Life is Good!!

A Day of Remembering

Sunday, since we knew we were only going to be in this area a couple more days, we decided to take a little drive to a place not far from here.

We have not visited this place for 44 years and wanted to see if it was still there.

 Recently I shared with you that we were celebrating our 44 anniversary.  On June 21st., 1968 we were married in Long Beach, Ca.

Just 3 days before our big day, Mr. SS, after his junior year at Long Beach State College, signed with the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team.  He was to go right away to Modesto, to join the Cardinals A league farm team.

After explaining to the agent who signed him that he was getting married in 3 days, they generously gave him until June 25 to get to Modesto. I say generously, because in those days, once you signed a contract, they owned you and as we were to find out later, showed little regard for family or family events.

Anyway...we had to make a quick decision to shorten our honeymoon plans and find a place nearby, so our precious time wasn't spent traveling.

I had read in a Bride's magazine about all the wonderful places to honeymoon and a small ad caught my attention.

Roy Rogers and Dale Evans had recently bought the Apple Valley Inn and refurbished it. It offered a lot of fun things to do along with a restaurant, pool, stables etc.

So after our wedding on a Friday night and a reception at my Mom's we took off for Roy Roger's Apple Valley Inn.

Last Sunday, after going on the internet and googling Apple Valley Inn,(something we sure couldn't have done in 1968 lol) I came up with a little info:

In 1965, movie stars Roy Rogers and Dale Evans and their family became residents of Apple Valley. Roy Rogers leased the Inn and restaurant, which was then renamed Roy Rogers' Apple Valley Inn. The Outdoor Steak Fry and the Roy Rogers' Riding Stables, with its haywagon rides and horseback riding, were two popular enterprises attached to the Inn. Mel Marion and then Billy Bascom managed the stables. Cowboy artist Earl Bascom and his artist son John worked there from time to time. Roy Roger's personal horse, Trigger Junior, was frequently boarded at the riding stables.^[2]
After many successful years, the Inn closed to the public in 1987. It was purchased by the Lakritz Partnership in November 2003 and restored.

After putting the address in our GPS, (something else we certainly couldn't do in 1968)
we once again headed for the AppleValley Inn. No longer the Roy Roger's Apple Valley Inn. and as far as we could see, it wasn't  even open.

The entrance hasn't changed much, except for the name change.

 We took pictures of each other standing here on our honeymoon.

Wonder if I could find them.

On the way back, as we were driving down the highway, I looked to the left I saw this sign over a street leading to Old Town Victorville. Mr. SS (who knows me so well) did a quick turn around and stopped so I could get a picture. My mind was racing...antique stores, cute gift shops, little outdoor cafe for lunch. Photo opps galore!!

NOPE!! All vacant, boarded up or covered in grafitti. I was so disappointed. At least there was a great sign.

Since in 1968, there wasn't much to Victorville, I'm sure this is where we came on Saturday for lunch and a little shopping.

As we drove back to Adelanto, we started reminicing about that 3 day honeymoon so long ago.

Like:

How the minister said during the wedding ceremony "Do you Chuck, take...." instead of Dennis.

When we were having our counseling with him,  he laughed and said Dennis reminded him of Chuck Conners (a lot of people thought that when he was younger).

Yes...he actually called him Chuck during the ceremony.

Like:

How my cousin showed up in the same dress as my mother in law and had to rush out and buy a new dress.

Like:

How the flower girl (Mr. SS's little neice) picked at her "bottom" during the whole ceremony.

Like:

 How while driving our VW bug to Apple Valley, Mr. SS got a speeding ticket.

The officer looked in the back seat (where we had put the cans that our wedding party had tied to the back of the car.  Remember when, back then, we did that?)

and asked if we had been drinking. LOL

Like:

When we checked in, we asked where the restaurant was and were told it had just closed.  We had left the wedding reception without eating and Mr. SS had to have something to eat, (he hasn't changed a bit) even on the eve of his honeymoon.

Like:

How we canceled reservations for horseback riding and the Steak Fry on Saturday night to just be together.

Like:

 Coming home late Monday night to our little apartment and sitting in the bed cross legged and eating apricot jam on toast.

(My Mom had brought us some of her homemade jam and bread and leftovers from the reception so we would have food when we got home.

Like:

Going over to my Mom's on Tuesday and opening presents and having more sets of glasses than we have ever seen...

Like:

Saying goodbye Wednesday morning when Mr. SS left to go to Modesto.

I had a job at the Post Office and had to be at work the next day.

Like:

How can we remember in detail things that happened 44 years ago and we can't remember where we left our eye glasses ten minutes ago.

Well, if you made it to the end of this, I'll just say thanks for stopping by.

It was fun to write and brought back a lot of memories that I had forgotten.

While writing this, we got "orders" to leave Adelanto for one day at Puddingstone Lake and tonight  we will be heading for Agoura Hills, but will stay in Oxnard.

Next post won't be so long and boring. I'll show some things I have been sewing on.

God is Good!!

Life is Good!!

A Short Trip

We've been in Las Vegas for a few days. Mr. SS is taking an 8 day class. We took off last Monday afternoon and won't be home until next Tuesday night.

It was kind of a last minute thing, and after the 108 degree temperature we had last Sunday, I was glad to hop in the air conditioned car and was prepared to spend 8 days in an air conditioned room.

 

After a sweltering day on Sunday of working on our motorhome and getting it ready to go back into storage, and packing for the trip, we were sitting outside at dusk trying to cool off. ( The metal box  RV  cottage we live in just doesn't get cool at 108.)  We don't usually see great sunsets but when I looked up and saw the sky, I had to run and get my camera.
Of course by the time I got back to snap it, it was almost gone.
Story of my life.

 Monday before we left, I called and asked Brooke to come down. I finally gave her the Ladybug apron I made for her. She was so tickled and it sure looks cuter on her than on Rosie the manequin

As we were driving through Tehachapi on our way to Vegas, I was looking at the wind farms and tried to snap a couple of pictures. There are thousands of these between Tehachapi, and Mojave.
Mr. SS and I both at the same time said, "Wonder if Scott (our oldest) is up repairing one of those?"
After we closed our construction business he was forced to find a new career and was blessed finally this last year with a job working for one of these many wind farms.  He has to go to the top and is trained to repair them...no, I don't want to think about it.

I also commented that there are usually a lot of them not turning, but that day, we only saw two. Mr.SS jokingly said maybe Scott is doing his job. LOL

Okay, so...for several days, I just didn't want to pay to have the internet in the Hotel. I thought I could live a week without reading blogs, posting on my blog, reading e-mail and Pinterest. WRONG

I finally caved and signed us up.  It's amazing how hooked one (me) can get on this little screen.

Anyway, I brought my little sewing machine and have been sewing away in my air conditioned room.
I made this bag for my cousin Judy and snapped two pictures and the batteries on my camera went dead.

 I did a lot of top stitching and wanted to show you the details. I even stitiched around the polka dots on the pocket.

I'm going to have to go down to the gift shop and see if they have batteries, because I wanted to show you the patchwork on the bottom, and the pockets inside too.\

I also made a tablerunner for the 4th. I'm doing some hand quilting on it, but for the sake of time will finish by machine quilting the rest.

Also brought 3 little handwork projects...a couple of books and my kindle of course.

Mr. SS is in class 10 hrs. a day and studies at night, so other than going down for dinner, I have had plenty of me time.

Our anniversary was yesterday...44yrs. and we went to one of the restaurants here in the hotel. I wish I could have gotten a picture of the size and presentation of the food.

I told Mr.SS we would have to go back there before we leave so I can get a picture after I get batteries.  He just laughed. He knows after my 2 1/2 yrs. of blogging, that it's all about the pictures for my blog.

You all know what I mean!!

God is Good!!

Life is Good!!