They Surprised ME!

As tradition has it, if you have a birthday here at the station, it is celebrated at the end-of-the-month Staff Meeting. I am in charge of all meetings and/or celebrations, and I dutifully passed around a card for another employee's birthday which fell a day before mine, and we celebrated at the end of August appropriately. He remembered that it was my birthday also...and of course I was chastised for not letting everyone know...um, yeah.

September had no birthdays, good thing - the meeting had to be cancelled because of other goings-on.

Yesterday we were to have a pre-election coverage meeting and for whatever reason, it was scheduled to be held in the Green Room. Weird, but we aren't locked into the conference room, I'll go along with it, and I had no pre-prep to do. We all shuffle into the meeting...and SURPRISE! OMG, they surprised ME...the general busy-body, think-she-knows-it all, chief, cook and bottle-washer. The one who holds down the fort and front lobby. They even snuck my hubby in, and since we commute he had to walk the mile to my office as I had the car!

They served my favorite boston creme cake with the addition of fresh raspberries, and one of the gals made origami bowls for pretzel treats. The table is covered with an impromptu wrap of aluminum foil. Without me to buy/arrange/schedule...they're on their own...and did a terrificly, wonderful, surprise birthday party.

I've never been truely surprised before, and I only shed a few tears! I absolutely had NO idea. Didn't notice added hub-bub, and didn't see my husband walk right past me! Geez Louise I need to be paying better attention!!!!

I love my job and my co-workers, and my hubby for "going the extra mile".

Skyline or Gold Star?

Anyone who has been to Cincinnati surely has some knowledge of that city's version of Chili. There's always a rivalry between Skyline Chili and Gold Star Chili. They are both good, but IMHO Skyline is tops. Now that I make my own, and because I live 2500 odd miles from The Queen City, mine is best.

Whaddya say dd#2 and dear readers? Who's is the bestest?

It's our absolute favorite to take camping. We freeze in vacuum bags already cooked pasta and (separate) chili. Pop both boil bags in a large pot of water and then use that same water to wash the dishes!

Bouquets of flowers

Thanks to dd and DebR for the added pieces of information I needed to get my head around getting the photo on the top of my blog. It just took me a few more tries.

This photo (Black-eyed Susans) was taken in August while in Michigan for a Memorial. They sit in my lucky sister-in-law's carefully tended garden by the lake. I've used bits of this photograph for many different things, namely writing paper border and blog mastheads!

"Orange Sock, Green Sock" FINISHED!

In the late 80's my oldest daughter was quite the difficult sort. She was born in '82. I once read a book that described her as having, "The Difficult Child Syndrome". Well duh. These difficult children (she matched to a "T") don't like constrictive clothing (didn't wear jeans or courderoy, much less dresses, slips), didn't like to have the noise level up high, couldn't stand extremes of any sort..lights, heights, activity level, etc. We learned to work around it, plan ahead, made provisions. She wore stretchy (but NOT clingy) pants, and loose sweatshirts and wasn't fond of changing her clothes up much. Clean clothes were ok, so I washed and rewashed about 3 different outfits...

SHE HAD THESE DARNED NEON ORANGE AND GREEN SOCKS. They were nylon and bright. She didn't much care if she wore one orange and one green. As long as they felt good, she felt good. Sometimes she'd wear 2 pair.

Fast forward to 2003...

The Free Spirit Fabric Company put out a pattern called Bippety Bopp a couple of years ago. The Glass Thimble in Columbus, OH made up fabric kits and had the finished quilt up on display. As soon as I saw it I knew it was going home with me. It almost did, they didn't have all the fabric in yet and would get it to me soon. Soon meant a couple of months, but in the grand scheme of things, what did it really matter? Anywho, this was THE quilt for my oldest daughter. Matches her to a T, lol. Bright, crazy, out of step, unpredictable, but it all fits (the quilt and the kid) together to make up a wild, zanny, life-loving adult. This quilt is for you oldest daughter. It was made to stand up to your lifestyle, meaning, yes, it's ok if Zebby sits on it!

Oldest daughter was a 12-Varsity Sports Letter holder and is now in the film industry, bungee jumps, parachutes and has a trampoline in her backyard.

I brag, because I can, lol. No, it's just so YOU realize that even tho your kids make you crazy on some days, they WILL grow up and be fruitful. If they have been taught the right values in life, they will always "know" them. (May not always show that all the time, but then they are the ones who have to take the consequences of their actions now!)

Yeah, that's me...*confused*

You Are 45% Left Brained, 55% Right Brained

The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning. Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others. If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic. Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet. The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility. Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way. If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art. Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.

Are You Right or Left Brained?

I know "why" I'm confused. I'm a total "rule follower" but very organized regarding how I handle my tasks, etc. Oh...and pretty darn stubborn!

We decided to spend this weekend totally home. We've been running since Spring, or so it seems, and will travel again late this Fall. Yesterday was just wonderful, I spent the day doing 30 minute spurts of machine quilting (all my neck will allow), followed by 30 minute spurts of cleaning/organinzing my clutter. See? When the timer rings I get up and move, not ignore it and finish the seam like other right brainers.

I also finished my first sock. Not totally enthused with the Kitchener Toe finish, and neither is dh. I tried 3 times to do it myself, then asked my dh to read the directions over and over until I finished with all the stiches. I love the sock, pictures will follow another day, but the yarn was too bulky and I should have done the ribbing in a smaller gauge needle. I used 3.25 dpn bamboo, but heck, this was my first, what did I know!

We tried to get all our running out of the way Friday, and dh worked valently on getting the laundry caught up during the week. All that was left for this weekend was the weekly sheet load. DH worked on his "science experiment"...A SOLAR OVENfor camping! Here, the temperature was only around 225º, but with a little fiddling he achieved 260º, enough for the cup of tea which he presented to me!

I guess we are true midwesterners at heart and did a little "putting up for the winter", even tho we live in northern CA. Some of our running around included our favorite Omaha Meat Store, and picking up a rain-check of shrimp at Smart-n-Final a small warehouse store. Yes, I know there needs to be some airflow room, it does now, we've eaten a couple of helpings. We were able to get 26-2 people portions for $125. We buy from Omaha all the time, their meat quality is just the best, and it's all prepacked in individual portions. Someone forgot to remind us how small our freezer was and it was quite a challenge, but we did it!

Off to work some more on machine quilting my dd's last Chrismas quilt. I should have the MQ done today, and hopefully the binding made and attached. I'd L-O-V-E to get that darn thing in the mail today to Florida! Next project is MQ on a baby quilt to a family baby born in July...ahem.

I won't forget, will you?

Mt. Ranier

Sunday we spent the day driving to Mt. Ranier. I had no idea what to expect, and was not disappointed. The view was breathtaking, and we stopped many times along the way to enjoy the vista.

The sightseeing opportunities were just wonderful. We had binoculars and we could see teeny-tiny mountain climbers w-a-y up the glacier face climing towards the top of the mountain. I have no desire to join them, but I do love to "watch".

The beautiful Seattle skyline as we returned home from our trek.

Back at home, I've started getting my sewing stuff out. I have SO many things started and incomplete, it's embarassing. My oldest dd's Christmas quilt is first in line. I've only got 2 borders to finish the MQ on. What to do, what to do (next)?

More of Seattle

OK, so I fell in love with Seattle!

These first two pictures are still from Pike Place, the open market area. I have NO idea what kind of funky veggie the strange one on the right is, it felt like a broccoli-type tho. I'd eat it, lol.

Once a seafood importer, always a seafood nut! This cool shop is extraordinary because if you buy fresh fish here, the attendants on the outside literally throw the huge fish to the guys behind the counter to be wrapped or shipped. Of course, I was WAY too amazed to catch a flying fish with my camera. I could have stood there for hours, it was very entertaining!

This is the large boat we took to Tillicum Island. There were probably 200 folks on board, all ages, who travelled at 4:30pm over to the island for the sunset cruise.

We dined on salmon cooked on alderwood racks over an open fire. New potatoes, salad and a nice salmon shaped hunk-o-chocolate for dessert. A drama was performed after dinner about the history of the Indians in the area.

And of course, the sunset.

We had a great time with family, it's wonderful to be a part of it.

Tomorrow a few pictures from Mt. Ranier.

Seattle's best

If you know me, you know what I love.
C-O-F-F-E-E
We were in Seattle last weekend visiting family and I was able to go to THE ORIGINAL Starbucks store...the mother ship. It was wonderful, and wonderfully delicious.

We visited the public market, Pike's Place and I fell in love with these brightly colored strings of various peppers and garlic. Such a treat for the eye.

On totally another subject, does anyone have any ideas for turning a living room into a studio? Of course the front door opens right there into the room, but I have been given the go-ahead. Me thinks someone has realized that there is a frustrated artist just about to go postal. It's in both of our best interests!

DD says my blog posting is unreliable. Cross my heart (again) I'll try to do better.