Vacation crafts

These are the crafts we completed during our vacation. My niece painted my Crafty Chica sanctuary for our September 1 anniversary. Jacob drew the skull on the top. She also assembled the tray from a picture frame. I had the idea and cut the pictures from a .25 book cut she painted and did all the embellishments.

Lee painted our bathroom the green apple and the little shelf. Isn't is cute?

Enjoy.

Vacation Wrap Up

Yesterday we spent the day in downtown Hemet. Our exploring tools include the Internet, GPS, and Google on Lee's Blackberry. Before starting our trip we searched for thrift stores, used books, fabric stores, alternative record stores and antiques. We always prepare a list of books, records or items we would like to find.

We will normally stop at all Ross and Marshall stores, too, but there simply was so much to see we ran out of time.

Antiques, thrift stores galore, fabric, a corgi, and yummy food.

Amoeda Treats

We absolutely had to make a trip to LA just for our Lee. We all got treats.. Always take a list when visiting Amoeda

We made some time for thrifting on the way. The LA Out of the Closet wasn't as entertaining as the Long Beach store. We did have a laugh at the man on top of the building.

See us in the graffiti elevator at Amoeba. Joe did a little shopping, too. There really is something for every one. I purchased two movies: Brief Encounter and Young at Heart, Lee was able to find every album on his list in the used section, and Holly got a Barbie movie.


One last stop in Hollywood at Counterpoint Records and Books really interesting because not only does it sit in the shadow of Scientology Celebrity Center but I found the book Pad.

Running in Circles

Lee seeks out his name every where we go. Probably because I tease that "Lee" is really a middle name and not a proper first name. An added bonus was that the sandwiches were really good. The best baguette bread ever-crusty on the outside.

We like bargains but we like the hunt even better. Here's our Long Beach shopping adventure from earlier this week. The thrifting was good. See us walking along 4th Street. Lots of retro shops with mid century furniture. Expensive but wonderful to window shop. Hip clothing and really nice shop owners. I haven't mastered moving photos around but here is a before and after of my childhood nightstand. The dresser will live in the kids bedroom. The red is so much fun and we replaced the knob. Spray paint is addictive.

Vacation

This is for all you sandwich generation peeps out there. This is what vacation is like for us: part honey-do list, crafts, gardening, and taking parents, VoVo, to doctor/hospital visits and trying to squeeze a little road trip in there. We realize this isn't for every one but for us it is the only option for now. Today, we spent all day at the hospital. After VoVo, Joe had the worse of it. He took a 2 hour tour of Riverside with VoVo on the dial-a-ride trip home. It was not funny.

VoVo said I do not want to do this again. It's hard on her. The day started at 6 a.m. and she made it home at 7 p.m. The staff at Riverside Community Hospital is always professional and kind. But the pre-procedure communication isn't always the best. For example, I wish that a 8 a.m. check-in meant 8 a.m. (I actually pre-admitted her yesterday). We didn't make into the outpatient area until 10:30 a.m. and that only happened because we made a stink-squeaky wheel theory.

It's one thing for adults but children and the elderly should have priority. At no time did anyone say you will have to wait for over two hours to be seen or that she needed her blood typed (again) the day before...almost an impossibility. Also, I wish hospitals wouldn't overbook. The whole procedure started at about 11 a.m and ended at just after 3 p.m. but since we did not have a realistic pick up time, at least 24 hours in advance, we had to wait for our scheduled dial-a-ride pick up at 5 p.m.

It was exhausting for us but really hard on VoVo. The whole calamity was worth it though because you could see a positive change almost immediately. Don't get me wrong we are thankful for the people at Riverside Community Hospital and the public transit that assists us in getting where we need to be. Just a little more communication and coordination and it would have been a perfect experience.

In the last four years we have learned so much and hope that our experiences will help others. We have been blessed each and every step of the way.

Tomorrow is a new day and I can not wait to share the crafting that has been going on around here. Painting of our bathroom and accessories, spray paint on furniture, little garden turtles, a new tray.... and it doesn't stop there sweet things.

vacation

Here's some eye candy...from our travels. Honestly, we have been all over the place. We started our day in Anthropologie in Corona's Dos Lagos. Talk about eye candy there is so much to see.

We visited Upland and Long Beach. Lee's heart is set on the Watergate ashtray. So we will be back tracking just a little bit.

I'm not the only one dreaming..Halloween

Matthew Mead knows what my heart is craving. Flea market type style and Halloween. Check out his Halloween templates. For all of you that have mourned the loss of so many of our favorite magazines read about his collaboration for a new magazine.

Lee and are officially on vacation. I still have home work but we don't have to get up so early and we may just have time for a little end of summer house cleaning and crafts. The blog may even be updated daily. I won't promise.

Family will start coming in tomorrow to visit with VoVo.

Susan Branch Event

We have been waiting for this event for over a year. Yes, we are getting pretty good at taking pictures of ourselves.

Here she is walking on stage....my favorite author and true American hero. Here's one of my books that Susan signed for me. Yummy treats prepared and provided by Flying Geese Quilter's Guild members. So good. Here is Susan and her mom. They are so beautiful and sweet. Look at all the women shopping. No recession here. Mission accomplished. Susan starts her trip back east tomorrow. Check her website for updates www.susanbranch.com

Saturday Musings

After getting our hair done, code for therapy, we made our way down to Temecula for the barn sale. Check it out here the barn always worth the trip. We are always inspired.

We also visited the Quilters Coop and for Lee music. Thems the rules, Lee drives and watches the kids if they fall asleep in the car but he gets to search our his favorite places, too.

So much to look forward to, but that is a story for another day.

Crafty Plans

So much to do. Not a lot of crafting has been going on at the Pumpkin Cottage. That's what I call our little house. I wanted something clever but our house is a light peachy color and I do have to pay homage to my hometown.

Plus we do love Halloween around here. Yes, I know we still have a while until the Inland Empire weather cools off. It hasn't much better in the OC, but my thoughts are in dreamy autumn.

Find joy people.

The hunt is on

Where Women Create..... I am on the hunt for the August issue.

We love antique stores, fabric stores, and used book stores. Found this jewel in Long Beach at http://www.oncereadbooks.com/

http://www.timberpress.com/books/isbn.cfm/9780881924176/merry_hall/nichols?s=bn

Beverly Nichols' book Merry Hill.

Yes, I know there isn't a minute to read but I've read the first chapter of three books now...

Sunday Fun

It was a family fun day. No crafting this weekend. The 91 freeway got in the way of all our plans yesterday. We missed the Peddler's Fair at Piecemakers and the Tall Mouse sale...it was hard to rebound.

Sunday was really fun, though. Check out our scrapbook pictures. Life is hard, we are not denying that reality, but there is JOY every where. Blessings and little moments of peace. There are tears sometimes but only because there are positive memories to hold onto.