Renaissance Festival

Sunday Feb 17 we went to the Renaissance Festival with Rob and the kids.  It was a perfect day to go, sunny, temperture only about 70-72 degrees.  The rains earlier in the month had turned both the Desert and the Festival grounds into a lush green carpet.  My camera battery died or I would have taken a lot more pictures.  I took at least a dozen pictures of the costumes (for sewing ideas).  About a third of the people who attend wear their own costumes and the Festival hires dozens of people in costumes to walk around and talk to attendees in "Old English, Shakesperian language" which really adds to the fun.  I swear, someday I am going to make a costume for me to wear to the Festival too!  This year Audrey wore her Fairy Apparel and she talked to all the fairies we met.  Audrey loves everything Fae.  Rob and Avery went on this fantastic, giant, trampoline and they had a blast!  Grandpa and Audrey road a giant rocking horse.  There were at least 20 free shows.  My favorite was the "Fire Whip".  This brave (or foolhardy, or a dare devil you could say) young man used a whip to snap the heads off roses - that were being held between a ladies teeth !!!! Then he lit his whip on fire and - well - WOW - you all missed a great show.  There was also a kind of Ampitheater this year with slooping grass to sit and watch some of the shows (some places were a little bit too soggy because of the recent rains but Rob found a sunny, dryer spot).  I watched the free "Ladies of the Court" dance lessons - I didn't get up to try it but sitting in the sun listening to the flutes and the "Queens Dance Instructor" give directions with her Old English tongue was magical.  And there was a pastry shop with some Italian goodies.  And Avery shot out balloons with darts and won a prize.  And I had my palm read and then I read the gypsy's palm right back and she asked me how I knew so much - Thank you again my dearly missed Grandma Robinson). And Rob and the kids had their traditional GIANT roasted TURKEY LEGS.  And Rob and the kids shot arrows.  Just a really great day :)  

Saturday Feb 2, A Fun Day

Saturday, Fed 15...Grandpa takes the Resort Bus and goes up to Verde Valley Wine and Pecan Festival.  Grandma spends the day on errands with Robbie and "the Kids".   We start with Breakfast at the "Corner Cafe" right by Sunrise Village.  Next stop was haircuts. While Avery got his hair cu, t Audrey used Grandma's new camera to take pictures.    Then on to get Audreys nails done.  After that the BIG EVENT.  We go through all the rows of toys at the Super Walmart store where Audrey shows us all the things she would like for her upcoming Birthday.  There will be a lot of choices for us to buy for her.  Avery also admires the Big City Lego sets.  Finally - we look-in on the garden shop and Avery and Audrey do an imprompt sword fight with pool floaties.  Then they drop Grandma off and she takes a well deserved hour nap!  Grandpa comes home with lots of stories about the wines he has tasted - plus he brings Grandma a Pecan Turtle, yummy.
  

Progress in the Master Bathroom

     Here's some pictures of the Reg finishing up the master shower. We were finally able to get the tile.

       Reg has been cutting tile for 2 weeks now and today finished cementing the tile to the walls  ( floor is always last, grouting is next ).  He found the same ( just like in the sink area ) decor tile ( sliced granite and glass ) that he had put in the sink area at a clearance place in Phoenix.

         The place is called "DesertLiquidators" and it is a fasinating place to walk through.  They had some gorgeous reclaimed medievil entrance doors, a giant and ornate tub that must have come from an old deluxe hotel, beautiful dishware from a restaurant, all kinds of unusual, one of a kind,  things to make a house really distinctive.  Russ had told Dad about it quite a while back and we went past it by accident while driving in Phoenix and stopped to look.     

We Saw A Movie

Reg and I saw the movie
 "The Last Stand"
with Arnold Schwarzenegger and we thought it was great.  I have read in the newspaper that it isn't doing well at the box office and we are really surprized.  It was a good story, really good main plot because it was a story that took place in Arizona. 3 sub plots that brought in some humor too. 

Downtown Phoenix Doings

Phoenix Quilt,Craft, and Sewing Festival

WOW - where has the whole 1st month of January gone?

I went to the PQCSF with my friend Karen on Saturday, Feb 2nd.  We had a great time.  Karen had printed the schedule from the internet (she was planning ahead - that's how we were able to find the classrooms right away to take the classses, THX Karen ) .  We took 2 classes.

I was so excited to see Linda McPhee in person.  Her class on making a vest and/or a jacket from her designs was great - and she taught us how to do the Iron On Metallics.  I talked to her at her booth and she is wintering at Vista Park over on University Dr (where Maryann and I went to that big Craft sale a couple of years ago).
 
We also went to a class by Connie Spurlock about how to turn sweatshirts into jackets.  Her system makes it look EZ.  I hadn't even seen anything by her before but I have now been to her website and she has a lot of stuff for Applique.  Karen and I also went to her booth and did her "Make and Take", a Chicken applique on a dishtowell (see my picture, I finished it at home).   There was a great booth with fabulous doll cloths. And I got to look through Sue's Sparkler's selection of iron on bling and it is so much better than looking at the internet catalog. 

Grandpa teaches Kylee how to make PIZZA

Grandpa still makes homemake Pizza Dough from his Mother's recipe.  Grand-daughter Kylee asked if she could learn how to make it - and Grandpa was so happy that she wanted to learn this Italian Cooking Art.  While the dough was rising, Kylee also played with some needles and yarn and learned to knit a square with Grandma. 

Mining Camp dinner & Show

We had not been to the Mining Camp in years but brother Dave told us they had a Cowboy band now and asked if we wanted to go with him and Debi.  Rob and Jen also were invited and we had enough to have the whole table.  We were in the FRONT ROW!  The band and floor show was great. See Dave and Debi holding hands.  I have told lot's of folks here in the park what fun we had. 
 

We spent Christmas up in Flagstaff with Rob and the Grandkids.  (Thank U Robbie :) best gift ever)  The house Rob rented was wonderful, the kitchen was fantastic, and the cream on the top was the snow - lots of it.  Reggie, Kylee, Rob, Avery and Audrey all got to play on Saucers and sleds riding down the hills at the Snow Park.  They all loved it.  A beautiful clear day with crisp, crunchy snow.  Everyone had a great time.  Christmas Eve through the house's Cathedral windows Grandpa and I saw the almost full moon with the Christmas Star on top. 

Boy thIs Christmas we have been so BUSY:) 
    My sister has joined a church, King of Glory over in Tempe.  She found out they do a Christmas Tea every year and she jumped right in and volenteered to do a table.  Each table has 8 attendee's.  Jen invited me, Debi, Kate, and Karen as her guests at her table for our Christmas gift.  This was one of the best things I have been to all year.

 

       Jen decorated her table (Table 12) beautifully with a Winter Snowflake theme and each person received a gift of a tiny night light - a Christmas House,  all decked out for the holidays. 

    Debi and I toured many of the other tables before the Tea started - each one was different.  We met a lady who used her antique, gold laced china for her table.  She has been a table hostess for several years and let us examine her beautiful tableware.  And - I ran into an old friend from work at MtBell - Phyliss Eske!  She told me she has been coming to the teas for many years. There were several groups of Gals who consisted of Grandmother, mother and daughter, and 1 group also had a great grand-daughter - 4 generations of women together.  Reminded me of when I was a kid and Mom and Grandma took us to the Mother and Daughter parties at Trinity church in Detroit. 

   An area Boyscout Troop helped serve as a Community Project (they get a badge for the service too).  Look at the beautiful Cupcake Pops made by some of the ladies at the church.  And we had "Dueling Pianos" playing Christmas songs for entertainment.  Tiny English High Tea Sandwiches, platters of beatiful Christmas cookies, at least 8-9 kinds of tea.  Pure Heaven.