Christmas Tree Decorating

Sunday, Nov 28 Rob invited us over for Tree Decorating and dinner. He got a fresh tree from Oregon and it makes his house smell like Christmas. We played Batman and Robin with the kids. They found the Penguin (Grandpa) really fast. I was Cat Woman and it took them 15 minutes to find me. I was crouched in the small space under Rob's desk and getting leg cramps! Finally I started making Meow sounds so Grandpa and the kids would spot me! For dinner Rob made a wonderful Spagetti Sauce that we all, kids included, scarfed right up. I am going to get the recipe. And for desert he made Lime Bars with the juice from Grandpa's Lime tree. A great meal.

Rain Coming in the Desert

Last year Reg (Grandpa) got these cute yard size Cookies and Candy after the 2009 Christmas holiday. He intended to put them up on Saturday (Nov 27). He put them up in the afternoon and it started sprinkling and the temp had dropped to a very brisk (for us) 60 degrees while he was getting them in the ground. As he finished, he could see the wall of water coming. He called me for the camera and he took a shot from the front of our house, looking east to our view of the Superstitions. The mountains have been swallowed up in the wall of water coming. Water is always so exciting here in the desert land Apache Junction Land.

My Very First Cross Stitch

I have always wanted to do embroidery. In the clearance section at Micheals last year was this kit to make a Cross Stitch Christmas Card. I bought it and stuck it in my card box - and just found it again when I was looking at cards for Christmas last week. It took me 5 evenings, but I got it done. I added an ice pad for Santa to be standing on, and moonlight in back of him. I have a Klutz book and it showed me how to make the fur on his suit fuzzy and his tassel puffy. He is holding a big bag of toys with a Candy Cane sticking out. His eye on the pattern was brown but I made it blue. Fun to do but OH MY GOSH THOSE HOLES ARE SMALL! But I have already started another one. I am sending this one to Audrey. AzGrandma Valerie

The weather right now is absolutely glorious. We are finally having our perfect "Fall" days. Last friday, Avery and Audrey's school was closed and Rob had the kids so he asked me if I'd like to play Miniature golf with them. We went to "Golfland" and it was a perfect time to go. We were almost the only people there. Also, the staff was putting up the Christmas decorations while we were there so the kids got to see that too. Fortunately for me, they didn't keep score. The kids are better putters than Grandma is!

My Bernina Sewing Machine Tech Lenard

I picked up my Sewing machine and Serger which I had dropped off last week at my Bernina store for maintenance. I love my Bernina store. It's right on East Southern in Mesa and its jam packed with sewing goodies. All of the folks who work there are real sewers and every time I go, even just to browse, I always learn something new. The Machine Repairman technician is Lenard. I am telling you, this man is like the God of sewing machines. He knows everything there is to know about sewing machines. This time he taught me a fast and EZ way to adjust the tension on my serger for any fabric. He showed me inside a sewing machine case and how to use an old tooth brush to clean under the plate. He is the kind of guy who shares his knowledge with his customers - not someone who keeps his knowledge a dark secret from the customers. Did you know that a Bernina Machine Technician ALWAYS takes the whole case off a sewing machine to clean and check everything, not just the side cover. Not all machine technicians do that. I am so lucky he and the Bernina store are in Mesa ! Close to me !! Here is his picture. Oh, they fix any kind of sewing machine there, not just Berninas.

Fun seeing Sydnee at Work

Sunday after the movie we went to lunch at Coco's, the restaurant that our charming 17 year old Grand-daughter Sydnee is now working at. The food was great and I got several pictures of the shy, demure said Grand-daughter in her new habitat. I was trying to stand unobtrusively by the register but with a camera in my hand it was not EZ. A nice little old lady asked me what I was photographing and I pointed out our Grand-daughter. She then shared a tale about her Great-Grand-daughter's new job and another little old lady joined us to comment that Sydnee was doing a great job, and then a gentleman added that Sydnee was a beauty. Sydnee had been trying to avoid the camera but with all of us talking about her and Grandchildren in general it was impossible for her not to smile at the gaggle of Grand-Parents. I managed to snap her several shots of her enjoying her job and her approving audience.

Movie Morning Sunday Nov 11, 2010

Rob suggested to Dad that we all go to the movies to see "RED" (CIA lingo for "retired extremely dangerous). I had been wanting to see that movie too. Alas, they had already removed the poster from the movie poster displays because it has been out quite a while - so our picture is in front of a differewnt movie. We all enjoyed the movie - good suspense with great comedy. I had my camera in my purse and got a "reasonable" (notice I didn't say good) photo of Bruce willis.