Testing, testing

Testing out the new format. If you never hear from me again, this is why!

Still Sick

I relapsed big time. And I've been coughing so much that I developed a horrendous pain in my ribcage. I was absolutely certain I had broken a rib. Hurts to sit up; hurts to lay down; hurts to breathe.

Well, after x-rays yesterday I was told nothing is broken. I have a touch of pleurisy. Man, talk about painful.

Anyway, that's why I haven't been posting.

I promised myself to do better but it is what it is.

This weekend I have help to move some tubs of fabric and a few other things into off-site storage. I desperately need to do that before the work starts around here. It'll be good to get this task off my plate.

Will be back soon. Promise.

Simple Pleasures

This morning Jill asked me if I was recovered from vacation yet. My short answer -- no! I wish I were back in Yosemite. The splendor of our first national park has me, frankly, mind-boggled.

I've seen lots of California poppies in flower beds and landscaping around the cities, but I had never seen them growing wild. Someone told me that the blooming season is just starting, but I was able to capture a snapshot traveling through the Tejon Pass. My first thought seeing the color spilling down the hills was "liquid gold."



What a beautiful state I live in. I've made a late New Year's resolution to see more of it before it's time to leave!

But on to the purpose of this post......

I was looking for a small box to mail something to a friend. With all the cleaning out I've been doing, I'm short on boxes.

But Kimberly to the rescue!

When this box arrived this week, I thought, "Darn, I wanted one of those smaller ones that she mails in." I finally opened the big box this morning and, VOILA!, the exact box I needed was inside!!!



I snagged the Love Letters kit on sale, and it was packaged in the smaller box. The fabric on top of the box is the backing set. I love this quilt. I meant to order it when it came out, but I'm glad I forgot!! LOL.

The perfect box -- a simple pleasure!!

Back to Reality

What a reality check this morning. It took me an hour and a half to drive 19 miles to work!

I'd rather be back in Yosemite!!












On the way home, the first town out of the park on Highway 41 was Oakhurst CA. We were just contemplating stopping at Starbucks when I suddenly whipped my head around and yelled, "A quilt shop!!" My friend who was driving slammed on the breaks and did a wheelie!! And she's not even a quilter!! LOL.

We went back to the shop and it wasn't open! Oh, no!! The good news is that it would be open in ten more minutes. So off to Starbucks, and then back to Bear Paw Quilts & More. They're located right on Highway 41. You can't miss the shop!



The owner is Donna Henning and her shop is adorable! There were lots of gorgeous samples hanging, and lots of kits and inspiration! Yes, I indulged! So? I mean, a gal's gotta do what a gal's gotta do!

Donna posed for a picture!



I would encourage anyone who is traveling up that way -- and you really should! -- to stop at Bear Paw Quilts! Trust me, you won't leave empty-handed!

Donna, thank you for being so gracious and warm! I plan on making Yosemite an annual trip, and I'll definitely be stopping by to say hello and indulge a bit more! I'm just sorry I didn't get a kit with a bear on it to commemorate my visit. Next year for sure!!

A Quickie Vacation

I'm vacation deprived!! Seriously!! I haven't been home in a year and a half, and I hardly go anywhere else but to work and back.

But this weekend ......

I'M GOING TO YOSEMITE!!

I'm so excited. I've known about this for a couple of months, but I didn't start really thinking about it until today.

I read everything I could on Yosemite at lunchtime. I checked out the awesome hotel where I'm staying. I'm ready!!

Clothes are going to be a problem. The warmest things I have are lightweight cardigans and wool gaberdine slacks. I don't even own a coat. Guess I'll be a little cold unless I can come up with a Plan B in the wardrobe department.

You know what? Who cares!! I don't!!

I'm SO excited!!

I put two exclamation points after almost every sentence!!

That's how you can tell!!

Lazy Sunday Morn

I've been totally worthless the last two or three weeks. I was so sick, and trying to work and keep up appearances ... it really kicked my you-know-what.

Yesterday I took it easy all day. Of course, that means I have more to do today, but that's okay. I need to find out exactly when this new kitchen is going in. I have to remove everything from the cabinets and the two pantries. I just hope it's another couple of weeks away. I guess those two boxes of fabric will finally get moved out of the big pantry! :)

Penny has turned into a slug since I've been sick. She probably look at her slug mommy and decided that's what she wanted to be when she grew up. Anyway, I found her napping today and managed to snag a pic before she roused. I can see the sofa needs a good "rolling" today.



On our walk a few minutes ago, I snapped this shot right outside my door. With all the rain we've had, everything is very, very green. Of course, it's always green in SoCal, but it looks clean and fresh this morning. More rain expected today, I think. I really don't mind. We'll be wishing for rain this summer.



I have a long to-do list. I don't even know where to start. I'm going to get someone over here to help me move things in two weekends, so I need to prep. Everything just seems monumental to me right now. I'm not strong enough to push and pull on stuff, so hopefully my helper will get it all done for me. I'm real tired of thinking about this renovation project. I just want it over with.

Feeling sorry for myself Friday. Don't know why. I surely have no reason for that. I guess it's because I was sick and got behind on everything. I decided to take a dose of this, and I felt ever so much better!

Off to get started on my day. I think I'll start upstairs by stripping the bed. That will keep me from crawling back in it for a short nap!

Feeling Puny

There were a couple of blogging friends who emailed today to check up on me. I didn't realize it had been so long since my last blog post.

I've been so sick. Apparently I have the upper respiratory crud that's going around. One trip to Urgent Care and some potent meds have not helped much. I guess I need to head back over there again this weekend. All I want to do is sleep.

Happenings around the house have been on hold. I need to get these things wrapped up and soon. I have renovations that are starting in a couple of weeks so I need to get a move on here.

When I feel better.

Thanks for checking in. I hope to be back blogging in a couple of days, maybe tomorrow.

If I can stay awake long enough.