Where Did January Go? (Monday, January 29th, 2018)

When we got back from our trip with the kids, Steve and I stayed in Denver for a short time to celebrate Christmas and his mom's birthday, check on the progress Steve's dad had made after his knee replacement (which was great by the way) and spend time with family and friends before heading back home.  

Our youngest daughter headed back to college for her final semester, and had a couple of snafoos in the process.  After a long discussion, she and her boyfriend of five years decided it would be best to go their separate directions.  Although I know this will be a hard transition for both of them, I know that they will both find their way as they transition into life.  In addition to this, her car decided to give up on her.  We had a lot of discussions about the best option for her, and in the end, she decided that she would prefer to take on the challenge of a new car, rather than take the chance of being stranded again after we returned home (our mechanic said it could be one of 50 things and they all sounded quite expensive).  She thought that with her being in Colorado a four-wheel drive car would make her feel a lot safer, and not knowing where she will live after she graduates, or what her commute will look like to her new big-girl job, we all decided that she was right.  So off we went to look at cars.  She ended up with a small new four-wheel drive (and unfortunately, the debt that goes with it), and we ended up trading in 375,000 miles of used cars.  We're happy to have the old cars gone (they have been great cars!), and she is very excited to be owning her first ever new car.  

The day after we returned from the trip, our oldest daughter and our son (in-law) headed out for their new home in Washington.  Our son (in-law) reported to his new job with the Army on January 4th and our daughter headed back to Colorado Springs to finish the sale of their house, pick up their cat, and return to Washington to start their new lives there.  Our daughter will continue to work at her current job for now, but we'll have to see what the future brings since it is a "Denver only" position.

When we got back to Arizona, my main focus was to get the blog caught up from the trip, catch up on work, and enjoy time with friends as time permitted, but in reality, the order of it just didn't work out quite like that.  

Of course, work came first, but after that, everything got a little fuzzy.  Friends kept calling asking us to join them for a meal, a drink or a game of golf.  The side by side club kept planning rides that we just couldn't resist, and once again life got really busy.  

Here are a few fun pictures from our trip to the Wing Mine and the Bat Cave with the side by side club.

We made it to the Wing Mine.

Back on the Road!

Lunch Time!

Fun pictures of Mitten rock.

Approaching the Bat Cave.

Hiking In...

Homeward Bound!

We will soon be moving into February with daytime temperatures in the low 80's and night time temperatures in the 50's. It is gorgeous, and we have a lot to do, so I'll say goodbye for now, and catch you again with our next adventure!

Christmas Tree Skirt...My Latest Project (Tuesday, August 29th, 2017)

I have been working on a Christmas tree skirt for our oldest daughter and her husband for about a year and a half now.  I'm not a very creative person, so I stick to things with patterns rather than trying to freestyle anything. 

Our daughter picked out this cross stitch pattern back in early 2016. I was hoping to finish it for them by Christmas of that same year, but I had definitely under estimated how much time it would take to finish the cross stitch portion it.

Cross stitch is done using a series of x's and straight stitches to make a pattern.  I believe that in this particular cross stitch that there were 256 stitches per square inch!  I didn't think to take pictures as I worked on it, but here is a close up of the stitches to give you an idea of how it's done.  When all of the stitches are done, you go back and outline using straight stitches, which is what really makes the finished product pop!

Once I finished the cross stitch itself, to had to turn it into a Christmas tree skirt.  To do this, you find the center of the cross stitch fabric, and using a string, mark an arc around half the perimeter of the cloth with pins.  Then fold the fabric in half and cut along the pins.







When you're done cutting you have a perfect circle.

I bought a light weight silver material for the lining.  I wasn't sure how my Sailrite sewing machine would handle it since it is a very heavy duty machine.  But here I go cutting it out.  Let's hope it works!

  

Once I had both pieces cut out for the Christmas tree skirt, I measured the perimeter and bought a trim that I thought would look good with the stitching.  When you put something like this together, you have to do it all backwards.  The outsides face each other, and the trim goes inside out between them.  That way when you turn it inside out, it looks the way you want it to.

Then you sew it all up, inside out.  It's not easy.  You have to watch the trim carefully to make sure that the bottom of it is getting sewn in, but that the tassels don't get sewn into your seam.

I think the finished product was well worth my year and a half of work, plus it was a lot of fun doing it!

I gave them their Christmas tree skirt when we were in Colorado this month, so they will have it for their tree this year.  Maybe I can get them to send me a picture of it in their house.  

My Sailrite machine handled the light weight fabric beautifully!  I really can't believe what that machine is capable of!

Now I'll have to figure out what my next project will be!  

Christmas in Colorado (Saturday, December 24th, 2016)

The torch was passed this year for the first time, to the next generation.  Our oldest daughter and her husband hosted Christmas Eve dinner at their house and started the formation of some new traditions for the family.

We have always had a nativity under the Christmas tree at our house, but the new tradition is a kitty under the tree.  I like it!

We started out with the family gift exchange, which is always a lot of fun.

The longest running tradition is the reading of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.  It started when our nephew (he's the oldest) was five months old, and has continued through the years; every year! We have now added our son (in-law), our nephews girl friend and our youngest daughter's boyfriend.  Our niece was on the phone since she couldn't be here in person this year.


Then we enjoyed a fabulous dinner of soup and sliders.  Oh my.... what a treat!

Some of the family had to leave to attend other events, but Steve and I had been invited to stay the night, so we had the opportunity to attend the Christmas Eve candle light service with our oldest daughter and her husband.  They usually attend services at a small satellite church near their house, but for Christmas, all of the services are held in the main church.  We have never attended a service at a mega church before, so this was new to us and a lot of fun.  The church was huge and had a lot to offer.

It was a really nice service, with pastors from all of the locations participating and making the service very special.

Once the candles were lit, it was a beautiful sight!

After the Christmas Eve service was over, we headed back to their house for a nice quiet evening, hanging out with the kids and our grand kitty.  

When we awoke the next morning, Santa had come and our grand kitty (recently neutered) must have been a good boy because his stocking was full of treats.

The passing of the torch this year was a big milestone for our family.  All of the kids are growing up and starting their own lives. It is a very mixed blessing, knowing that they are all doing well, but also realizing that life is changing and so are traditions!