WHAT I SEE

            SPRING

Blossoms on my Red Barron peach tree

Which means that Spring is here, although here in Southern California, winter  never showed up.

Olympics

Have you been watching the Olympics like I have.  My favorite sport is any Ice Skating competitions

and I have been staying up late to watch, which isn't helping my getting up in the morning.

 Why they leave it to broadcast  last is just plain mean. By then I have watched a million

 commercials , some of which are clever  and I do enjoy...  the rest……I just mute. We are

enthralled with the athletes and cheer for  our favorites, and love watching the excitement of the winners.

Speaking of the Olympics, my oldest granddaughter is a cyclist and is preparing for the next 2016
summer olympics.

She is receiving this years' new uniform as this is the beginning of the Jr. Women's Season.

Sorry it is a bit blurry…one of us was moving

With part of the team behind her.

http://www.gofundme.com/milliegoat   you can find out why she is called 

MILLIEGOAT

http://socalcycling.com/2014/01/14/time-introduce-jetcycling-womens-development-team/

This is an article about the team.

We have our fingers crossed that we all are going to Rio de Janeiro in 2016!!

GO MILLIEGOAT

TEACHERS

I have teachers on my mind.  Both my daughters and daughter in law teach. One of my daughters owns a small pre-school and I help out a few hours a couple of times a week. She provides a wonderful, safe, fun and warm environment for 12 children a day. She has taught a total of 15 years and holds a Master Degree in education. Her dream was to have her own school,  she has now fulfilled the dream that started when she was 7, and played nothing but 'school'.




            In the morning it's story time

      Then to the yard for out door play, everybody likes a wagon ride.
                                                                   

                            Then it's  lunch time….someone has a very healthy lunch!

                                                This week we're getting ready for Valentines Day

The chalkboard tells us what's for snack each day.

Each week the children help in the kitchen, bake muffins, chop fruit and make special crafts 

to take home.

One day we made Valentine Day placemats on water color paper and 

then they were laminated to last for meal time.

 I wish every child could be so lucky to have a teacher like her in their lives.

(Proud mom that I am)

ART DAY

Once a month I get together with one of my art groups to make art…of course.   We call ourselves "Eastside Art Group"  We take turns hosting and teaching…this day our teacher is Norma who is a prize winning, blue ribbon winner and has her art collected by others, artist.
http://www.stillwatergourdsbynorma.com

                        This day she is teaching us how to make gourd boxes.

                     Because California has decided not to have winter, we are able to work outside this fine sunny January day.

The dragonfly one is Diane, another prize winning Gourd artist.

This is Linda working on hers.

http://msgotrocksjewelry.com

This is Jacki working on hers.

http://jackilong.blogspot.com

I don't have a good picture of Norma our teacher or Marilyn's gourd.

And here's mine….just need to give it a finishing wax.

A photographer I'm not.

We had a delightful day in the sun, making art, gabbing, laughing and being together.  We just completed our first year together and started the second.

Wonder what I will teach when it's mine turn.

Welcome 2014

I'm never eager to start a new year, but am always happy to have the rush of the holidays over with. A

new year does give the opportunity to start with a fresh perspective with hope of making changes for

 ourselves in growing to become the best we can.  Although I believe this could be done on any given

day of the year.  The fun of using a new year to encourage myself to change a few things, is the

knowledge that there are many others doing the same. I'm starting out small , making my first priority  a

room I have always called "my sewing room". Since I now do many things in this room, I am trying to

 call it "my studio" without cracking a smile.


I began with organizing ALL my jewelry making supplies….to prove just how hard that is

I'm including a picture that probably should embarrass me.

I'm now onto the sewing portion, and will post pictures of that gigantic effort soon.

Looking like Christmas

 

Last year I participated in a Holiday Boutique

This is a partial shot of the outdoor booth.

My best friend since jr. high and I spent many hours sewing and creating. Pillows,

 table runners, stockings

and burlap wreaths. We had so many ideas, it was hard to stop.

(notice the spool of thread on the table)

The day was warm and bright and we loved that

many our creations went home with happy shoppers.

We worked so hard, you can see my friend taking a few ZZZ's early in the day

They all came with inserts and envelope backs, so easy to change out for each holiday .  One insert, many coverings, easy, easy.  I love changing out my pillows for the season and am in the process right now.  Putting away Thanksgiving and putting out Christmas.  It's like having a brand new family room.

Few more of my favorites...can't help it, I love them all.

Many are made of burlap, some with linen and some with velvet and everyone's favorite, drop cloth .

Beautiful and only $23.99 each

and of course.....made with care and loving attention

P.S. This Saturday and Sunday will be the 4th year of the HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE

345 E. 19th Street

Costa Mesa 92627

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE

many graphics from The Graphics Fairy,

love her site, check it out

It's Cookie baking time

Looks like the old standby 

                                                   Yup, it's chocolate chips

wonder how many made it to the cookie sheet

the art of display

and yes, they were delicious