Spring Training...Day One...

Spring training in Arizona...what could be better! We left home Saturday morning before the sun came up and headed down the interstate towards Arizona...we thought about flying, but be able to bring so much more by car is more convenient, so we decided to drive...Phoenix is only about 5 hours by car, so it really wasn't a bad drive...We crossed the Colorado River at about 8:30 or so...I didn't take any pictures of the California side...pretty ugly on that side really...the low desert in California is not my favorite...actually...it's my least favorite part of our state...it's just dirt and a few ugly shrubs...

Not like the desert of Arizona...now that's beauty! It's so thick with life...and I so love the Saguaro Cactus! They are protected by the state, but on one of our earlier trips I was able to buy one to bring home...it was so tiny...it still is! They grow very slowly and live around 200 years! They don't start growing their"arms" until they are 75 years old! They are an amazing plant. In the front you can see the Cholla cactus...these are all over Arizona too. It's amazing how just a few miles west...it is barren and ugly!

We decided to stop in Goodyear for a game on our way in to Phoenix. Goodyear is about 40 miles west of Phoenix and is the Spring home of the Indians and the Reds. The Reds were playing that day vs the Rockies...

It was a nice day for baseball...warm...about 80 degrees with a few clouds floating around....and a nice breeze...

We even saw Pete Rose!! Well...not really...but we did see his jersey!

Don found our seats...we're ready for some baseball!! Actually, we got there pretty early, so we had to wait a while for the game to start.

But once the game started...there was plenty of action...The Reds came out swinging!!

There was an entertaining...yet very strange...mascot...

There were even flyovers by the air force...

All and all...a perfect way to spend our first day in Arizona!

Stay tuned...tomorrow I will show you a bit more about our Arizona venture!

Enjoy your day, my friends!!

We're off!!

It's early morning...heck, it isn't even morning...more like the middle of the night, and I'm here to say I will be gone for a little while....Don and I are off to Arizona...to Spring Training!! This is a much anticipated event in our house...we are a baseball family!!

I'll be back next week...with lots of pictures of our trip...until then, my friends!!!

Another Project Linus finish...

Project Linus is a charity that is close to my heart...even though I have never met any of the children or their families...I think of them with every stitch I make on the blankets. Project Linus provides blankets of comfort to children who are in the hospital with any number of illnesses. They also provide blankets for traumatized children. I am a "blanketeer" for Project Linus. Blankets can be made any way you choose as long as they are home made and made in a smoke free environment. I have made most of the blankets this way...this is Swedish Weaving...I have shown it before, but I wanted to show my newest blanket to remind those of you who would like to help...you can find the link on my side bar...find your local chapter!
Here is a close up of the weaving...this is a fun project...I work on these in the evenings while I sit and watch TV...I use two different yarns...one solid and one variegated...

This is the yarn for my next blanket...we are going on vacation in a couple days and there will be a long drive to Arizona, so the next blanket will keep me busy! I rotate boy, girl blankets...and I also vary the sizes from baby to teenage blankets...there are children of all ages who could use a little comfort. I know my own sons used their blankets for security when they were small and still use their blankets to cuddle while they read or watch TV.

I want to try to make a rag quilt after the next one...I received one as a gift and really enjoy it...it is made from flannel and is oh so cozy..I have never made one of those, but I think I can do it! I just have to get enough flannels to make one...if any of you have made one of these...I would love some advice!

Enjoy your day, my friends...may you find comfort in the little things!

31 years ago today...

March 16, 1980, was a very special morning for us...that was the day we brought our first son into the world...we were so blessed...he was such a sweet baby...perfect in every way! Here's a few facts about our oldest son...
He's always been a Angel fan...from as far back as he can remember...

He's loved his beanies from a very early age too!

Always helpful...

And definitely in charge...

Best pals with his younger brother...

Athletic...

Truly a part of the MTV generation...

loves a good time...

fiercely competitive...

Handsome...

pretty darn perfect in my eyes...

Happy Birthday Joseph!! It is your day today and I love and celebrate you!!!

A beautiful March morning...

What could be better than a nice warm morning in March...not much...that's for sure! The wind from yesterday has died down and this morning couldn't have been better...so I headed outside bright and early to do a bit of gardening...I found lots blooming in the yard this morning...the delphinium in the background is about to bloom...
and look at all these beauties...this is on the east side of my front yard next to the wall we had built last summer...

for the life of me I can't remember the name of this bush, but I love it...it turns from bright orange to a nice light green depending on how much light it gets...it adds so much color to the yard...I think I need some more of these...

When we put in the wall last summer we had some extra space...I have always wanted a Hydrangea...and Don and I went and picked out this one last weekend...isn't it a beauty! It's pretty small right now and I don't know that much about them...but I love them!

Here's a banner I got at Joann's for 1/2 price a couple weeks ago...I couldn't wait until March to put it up!

Here's some pots on the step up to our front porch...I just gave them a drink...it rained on Monday, but I sometimes forget that the pots under the porch need water when it rains...so I gave them a nice long drink!

Ranuculas are blooming now! They started popping up really early in January and I was worried that if it got cold again they would go into shock...but they waited to bloom and look quite happy!

Here's a deep red one...I have lots of different colors, but these are the only ones blooming so far...

Daffodils everywhere too...and these little California daisies...which can get out of control quickly if you let them...they are a native and grow like weeds all over our yard! But they are cheerful plants so I let them stay where ever they want...

This is the west side of our house which I don't show too often...it is mostly in shade all day and can be difficult...my house shelters it in the morning and my neighbor's rather large boat shelters it in the afternoon...but the daffodils like it there...they are starting to bloom there and more little daisies...they are happy there too...

Lastly...I wanted to show you the birch trees on the east side of our back yard...their leaves are really filling in quickly! Soon it will be all green and shady over there...our mini forest!

The thermometer said 78 when I came in for lunch...I don't know if it will last but I am enjoying being in shorts and bare feet! I hope you are enjoying your March day too!

Take care, my friends!!

A bag for a 3 year old...

I had an order for a custom bag for a 3 year old...now at first I was really excited...then a bit nervous...it's been a long time since I was around a 3 year old...they are so trendy these days...but this 3 year old is typical...likes pink, Cinderella, butterflies, and flowers. I thought first of a princess theme...yes...princesses are always good...I found fabric I liked but I needed something to tie the princess together...everything was too corny, so I went with flowers and a butterfly...
Here's the back...even a wee one needs plenty of pockets...

Here is the lining fabric...this is really why I decided on the flowers...this fabric was just too darn happy! I thought about copying that silly bird...or the bike...maybe on the next one!

A patch pocket on the inside too...

Here's a close up of the fabric I picked...lots of fun there!!

A close up of the butterfly...oh there's some fuzz there...sorry...

A close up of one of the flowers...I copied the flowers from the button I chose...

I think it turned out happy and cheerful...something I would pick if I were 3! Now to see if the client likes it...I sure hope so...that is always my biggest fear...will they love it as much as I loved making it for them...we'll soon see...

Enjoy your day, my friends!!

Happy Birthday Don!!

This is my husband, Don...he loves the outdoors...especially the mountains...
Baseball is his favorite sport...

He knows how to have a good time....

He always seems to be in a great mood...

And he doesn't much worry about being like everyone else!! He's my hero, my best friend and the most wonderful husband a girl could have!!

Happy Birthday Don!!