Moving Day Weekend

Last weekend was the big Sacramento moving day. Our goal was to move the big pieces of furniture and line the kitchen cabinets. Seemed simple enough. The boys moved all the furniture from the old place and staged the furniture in the new place while I lined the kitchen cabinets and unpacked boxes.


Everyone helps.

It may be old fashioned to care about things like lined cabinets but I don't think a home is a home without the small details. Joe and I have gotten into the habit of saying, "Mother, would have wanted it this way or she would have wanted us to do this or that." So we do our best and try to allow her influence to shine through. She definitely would have cleaned and lined the cabinets. No matter that things were old...they were always clean and pressed and we try to continue the tradition.

In the end, we all thought the place looked so warm and comforting. A new home made fresh with pictures on the walls, lined cabinets (at least the ones I could reach from the step stool) and mother's favorite rose on the patio. Then, there were the personal treasures that provided the

finishing touches. A bed with clean and new linens seemed very inviting.

Since we were focused on achieving our moving day goals, we did not have an opportunity to stop or shop at roadtrip typical venues like a used record stores, bookstores, cupcake bakeries or nurseries. May I mention , another cupcake venue. We did, however, mark the territory for our next visit check out the links.

I know there are Sacramento bloggy land friends out there. Please check out the cupcake places and leave a comments for me.

We did have to have a yummy sandwich and ice cream at Vic's.


Charming...

Knitting

So I was over here reading Alicia's blog. She is writing about knitting and I start to bawl. My mother was a whiz at knitting. She didn't count her stitches...it was like music she just got into a rhythm. She could just fly while we watched Lawrence Welk or I Love Lucy..our all time favorite shows.

So many things I wish I had learned. She taught me so much but I wish I had learned more especially to knit. I didn't because the feel of yarn was always gross to me. I liked the feel of fabric, the feel of floss but never yarn. But now, yarns are beautiful , feel yummy, and are available all over the place.

I don't know if I will ever have my mother's knitting rhythm but if what Alicia describes is true I want it.

Weekend Adventures

Saturday

Even with the pouring rain...we headed to glorious San Diego for the Handmade Revolution show. Look here for Lee in the center of the photo and I am on the left side. So much fun. Jacob's loot included a notebook. I got a t-shirt and Holly chose a little stuffed heart. Holly is just being goofy here.

oh, mama, there is glare in my eyes and rain out here. But, check out the awesome journal, made by reusing an old hard cover book and inserting new pages. The vendor told Jacob it was her very favorite one. He was thrilled.

Later the same day, we visited San Diego's Little Italy Farmer's Market. Lee thought this was funny, but I will tell you there weren't any poopies on the street.

Simply a charming community. Farmer's markets are great for fresh goodness, at this markert there were dried fava beans, fresh cooked fish tacos, grape vines ready for planting in your back yard, fresh gluten free baked goods, herb plants and handicrafts. Simply some thing for every member of our little gang.

Off to the nearest Discovery Shop. Just make yourself at home kids. Very nice people in every Discovery Shop we have ever visited.


Ocean Beach shoppes..expensive but beautiful eye candy all around.

Mural borrowed from the Portuguese flag... Crown may just work as a tattoo. I like the dice like center..from the flag, too.

Santa Monica and Toluca Lake...sigh.


Santa Monica first...for new frames. Of course, I did not purchase these, too chicken, but how much fun was it to try so many frames on. I tried dozens on.


The nose is huge, I know peeps, but focus on the funky frames. I love the bling, never thought I would but I do. Still what I purchased was more conservative and will work for my professional environment. On the weekends anything goes.

This is the best way to choose frames, use a digital camera and see for yourself, especially if , are visually challenged and need your glasses to see not just as a fashion statement. The folks from Allyn Scura are the nicest people, responsive long after the purchase, and the lab they use results in perfect perscription lens and frames. Trust me I have progressive bifocals. You absolutely have to visit them at a show to purchase frames. Tell them Eugenia sent you. If they say who give them the blog address.


This time we had hot dogs but next time I promised Lee we could stop at Bob's. Thank you for stopping by.

What to Do????

Oh my goodness peeps. What do to? What I should be doing is homework, remember in all of this I am trying to work on completing my MPA.

What I WANT to do, and it shouts in my head just like that, is go to this:

Handmade Revolution on Saturday. Or this: vintage fashion show under the Allyn Scura site look on "shows" for show information this weekend and for half price voucher. More handmade goodness, vintage frames and possibility a dress for Michele's wedding.

Now Susan Branch will be having a big sale on February 20. I can't attend but may be someone out in bloggyland can and will send pictures to me... Sharon Lovejoy is going to be there. She used to have the most charming shop in Cambria, near Hearst Castle. Joe visited there with us years ago. Sharon Lovejoy also wrote a column in Country Living magazine. See Susan Branch's website for more information. It is NOT fair.

Speaking of fair what about the Long Beach Farmer's Market this weekend.

I would travel any where for you. For transparency sake, I want to say that I did map it out on Google maps to see if I could do both in one day but it is a 9 hour round trip from Turlock to Arroyo Grande. If I weren't acting as the preacher that day I would attempt the trip and savor success. (Lee is rolling his eyes..and saying, "You are driving.") You know I would. My mother used to say that she knew I could do anything if I put my mind to it. She knew me well.

Life is good. God is good. I miss my mother so much. I'll be honest even in all the JOY. And I mean JOY. I am thankful in all things everyday. In it all, I feel and welcome the waves of grief. My parents were married during the week of carnival...Fat Tuesday is fast approaching. Everything reminds me of what is missing. Lent is my favorite church season. A time to reflect, to sacrifice and to give praise. That sounds like sadness but it isn't. Grief is what we feel because we were blessed to love so deeply. Sadness is disappointment, shallow, more in than out.

Say it with me. This is life. Life is good. God is good.

Spondylitis is not our Friend

Spondylitis what a menacing looking and sounding word. This is the condition that has invaded my life since my first sciatica attack at the age of 14. Ankylosing Spondylitis has stumped my posture but not my spirit. It took until about two years ago for a true diagnosis but at least now I know.

I share this with you because you or your loved one may be suffering from a condition but you have not taken advantage of all the associations available on the internet. I encourage you to seek knowledge and support from all the expertise that exists within your reach.

As we start out this Valentine filled February, I encourage you to seek the unconditional love of caring for yourself or a loved one.

My mother would always sign her notes with XXXOOO. Here is a list of the organizations that have helped me.


Alzheimer's Association

Developmental Optometrists

Educational Psychologist

GriefShare

The journey that I take every year.

Simple Abundance

Happy Endings

Thank you, sweetie Yolanda, for leaving a comment. I LOVE comments. How do I know if you like to visit the blog if you all don't let me know? Love brings more cheery posts.

Because of Yolanda, I am going to share our adventures at the CHA Anaheim Show that was held last weekend.


The show was so much fun. I met Kathy Cano-Murillo, the CraftyChica. Oh my goodness. She is so sweet and full of energy. Just one of those people that is a magnet of positive energy. What you see is what you get. She has developed a whole cottage industry that originated in the living room of her modest home in Phoenix, Arizona. Last year, Lee and I visited the Heard Museum in Phoenix just to bask in the glory that was her exhibit. Here are a few photos from that exhibit.


See the sewing machine covered in buttons?

The CHA show provided lots of free "make and take" opportunities in addition to fee based workshops. Believe it Jacob and Holly took advantage of all the crafty fun.

Chrisy, if you are out there check out Jacob's sweater.

We visited with the folks from Craftster see the online shop. See Jacob above making the buttons from their booth. We purchased the Handmade Nation DVD and Holly decorated a cupcake over at the Cricut Cakes booth.

See what goodness comes from a little encouragement?

First Road Trip 2010

I promise this get along gang update was worth the wait. It has been pouring rain all week. We lost our electricity on Monday-a great adventure for the kids with glowing candle light from saintly candles. Us Catholics love our candles. Always looking for the joy. We have been sick, but that has not precluded road trips.

In anticipation of Michele and Duarte's wedding in February we revisited Turlock. The trip was planned primarily to get better acquainted with my niece's fiance and to better understand the essence of their relationship. We all had a wonderful visit. Lots of laughter and serious conversation about their marriage and future expectations. I am happy to say that it is apparent that they have already shared heartfelt and honest discussions.

During this visit to Central California we explored new venues:



Road side shops along State Route 99.

Check out the penny flooring. Jacob was facinated by the concept. The shop accepts donations of pennies.












Six hour tour. Goodness, I am so happy for quiet and reading time. Thank you honey for always taking the wheel. I finished my undergrad by reading while commuting on the train and road trips. Seriously. No motion sickness in this family.

As I have shared before, our roadtrip
targets are downtowns, antiques, bakeries, used bookstores, destination nurseries (really any nursery), American Cancer Society "Discovery Shops," and quilt shops. This is the
M & S Portuguese Bakery located in old downtown Turlock. We missed the goodies, because it closes at 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays and is closed all day Sunday. Looked yummy inside though full of traditional Portuguese pasteries, sweet bread and cookies.


















The Turlock Portuguese Bakery. As luck would have it, the VoVo angel rides with us, we found another Portuguese bakery near by.


We visited Old Tyme Pastries, so you do not have to, for cupcakes but found that even though the cupcakes look delicious they tasted "store bought."














Then we hit pay dirt, for me any way, Cloth and Quilts, the store looks small but isn't. At the back of the store were quilting long arms humming away quilting. We were all fascinated. Imagine what a time saver for the quilting bee ladies of long ago.



The kids had fun exploring this "tent" fabric. We purchased the front panel to make our own sweet tent.






















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My sweet peeps, now if you know me at all, you know that I am not happy unless I am purchasing the tiniest herb, flower or what not at a nursery. Something Lee will dread planting later. The Greenery is located a short walk from Cloth and Quilts. We brought back two sticks, seriously, an ollieberry (many variations in spelling) and a red raspberry. And these great pictures to share with you. This beautifully trained espalier apple tree. Be still my heart. It is dormant now but imagine its glory in the spring time. It is the first one I have ever seen in a nursery setting.
This gazing globe.

For another must have on our road trip-used records we detoured to Modesto. Not very well organized but a haven for those of us that don't mind the hunt.
Also, in Modesto, Yesterday's Books. We have visited before and it is always worth the trip. Well organized, clean and affordable for the whole family. One of my favorites. And Park Cousins quote hit the spot.

Road trip home, you may recall that we stopped outside of the Chicken Pie Shop, in the Tower District of Fresno on our last road trip, but this time Lee actually went in and purchased pies.



Just saying. If you don't have time for a fresh baked chicken pot pie, bring a cooler and take some unbaked pies home...perfection.
Also, in Fresno, Gazebo Gardens, we ran out of time but I promise we will stop in for a visit next time.

There is plenty more to share, and I am only sharing the best of our adventure. Just a tease for now...Downtown Visalia. What a beautiful city. I know California is in a financial mess but what an amazingly beautiful and diverse state. Be proud to be a Californian.