Where's The Heat?

Yesterday I was going to play around with fabric and thread after some inspiration from these, my favorite quilt magazines.But then it was such a nice day, we decided to go here. (my shell-seeking mother with her tootsies in the cold Gulf waters)

Today I'm in the sewing studio for a while before donning my glittery gown and dancing the New Year's Eve away (just kidding - we're grilling burgers with some friends and will likely be home and asleep by 9:00 pm). Happy New Year! --cds

Merry Christmas!

--cds

Christmas Village South

Our new living room features these odd cubby-shelves that are sort of difficult to decorate. They're too deep for books and anything else just gets swallowed up in the space. At the moment, tho, they are harboring my Christmas village because I had no where else to put it. A couple of the houses did not survive the move (I'm a poor packer), but luckily the skating rink is fine - it's my favorite.

There's been an apparent ruckus in Quigley's Tavern - the fiddler is laid out on the floor and Mrs. Quigley is not happy with him. Too much egg nog, I imagine.

--cds

Christmas Decorating

Our Christmas tree is all decorated and sparkly. It seems I've finally collected enough vintage-y ornaments to fill in the entire tree. I've been trying to recreate the Christmas trees of my youth (would have been easier and CHEAPER if you-know-who had consulted me before throwing out her stuff over the years).

I've been trying to avert my eyes from those aired-up balloon snowmen and snowglobes on lawns here in Florida - seems all wrong, especially so when placed next to palm trees. Christmas decorating is tricky in the tropics, but I will persevere. --cds

Looking Forward To Backyard Birdwatching, But This Is Ridiculous.

These guys showed up at our feeder Thanksgiving morning, and I didn't have the heart to shoo them away (and now they've nearly cleaned out the feeder). Besides, they are not the sort of birds that shoo easily anyway. I encountered this same family on my walk the other morning, Father Bird strutting down the very center of the road and I had to veer off into the grass. He wasn't about to move and I wasn't about to disturb His Imperial Highness (note very pointy beak and sharp rip-your-heart-out claw-feet). I've been nervous enough about the wild pigs rumored to be in the area. WILD PIGS! And I thought all I'd have to worry about here in Florida were the 102-year old seniors driving Buicks. --cds

Thanksgiving Decorating

Here is my lonely Thanksgiving decoration, my paper turkey from the 70's. Christmas decorating is another story, but we won't talk about that. I think I shocked my Mom with my tubs o'Christmas stuff. Anyway -- a Happy Thanksgiving to all family and friends. Safe travels. --cds

Ick - What A Mess.

Tomorrow I am tackling my bedroom bookshelves. When we got here, I just unpacked and stuffed books every which-way and now this is offending my sense of order. I do find it funny that my 1970 Legal Secretary's Manual is there next to The Agony and the Ecstasy and that there is a lonely Nancy Drew on top of Patterson's Dangerous River and my Rolling Stone Album Guide - what a mixed up mess. This will keep me busy for hours. If you zoom on this photo, you may peruse my eclectic collection - some of these are from my grandmother's bookselves, some from my dad's, and lots from second-hand bookshops. My favorite books of all time are in another room while James repaints their shelving. And then my Florida-themed books are in the living room - I'll take pictures of those, too, because I still reread The Pink Motel from time to time - my first introduction to Florida circa 1960. --cds

The Beach Babies

More pix of our day at the beach when the Utah crew was here visiting.
Bella decided to try diving for sand dollars - she's such a little fish.

Bella's bummie. --cds

Working in the Kitchen

Another corner of the kitchen is tidied up, topped off with my new red teapot. Diana, why don't you stop over for a cup of tea? I've been sorting, washing and arranging all my dishes. The above set of tea things was collected by Jim's mom. I love the cups - so thin and delicate. These are my go-to dishes for crowds - once in a blue (really blue) moon I can be quite the hostess. This service-for-10 set was Jim's grandmother's. Funny thing is that my Mom had this exact same set when I was little. My good blue stoneware - a wedding present from our best friends. --cds

Bit By Bit...

I am slowly unpacking and organizing my stuff. Here is a neat and tidy corner of my bedroom - the rest of my rooms are still in a state of confusion. I'm reading Beryl Markham's memoir, "West With The Night." She was a pilot in the '30s and flew around Africa, friendly with Hemingway and Baron von Blixen. It's one of my favorite eras and locations to read about and I like her voice - tough and kinda sassy. No quilting pix for a while since my studio/sewing room is filled with boxes and we're leaving for NJ tomorrow to pick up my Mom's furniture. She's having a bit of a tough time adjusting to being so far from her home place, but she wants to give this move a good try. I wonder why that doesn't bother me as well - I'm just as much a homebody. I guess because to me home is where your stuff is. --cds

It's Been A Busy, Eventful Week

Grandma and Grandpa are exhausted, but very happy to have our Utah kids visiting. We've been doing lots of fun stuff and getting a little moving-in accomplished in-between. Tomorrow is a veg day, but the chef has promised us a cheesecake before he leaves. --cds

The Day That Foster Street Looked Like the Barrett-Jackson Auction Lot

The hauler that transported Jim's two vehicles to Florida held other cars that had to be off-loaded first in order to put the old truck in the back. So along with Jim's truck and Corvette on our street that day sat a red Camaro, a snazzy black Nissan and a Maserati. It was like a car show in the front yard.




One of these days I'll get back to adding sewing, gardening, decorating content to this blog. --cds

Armadillo, It Is So On.

This means war. Another critter has set up housekeeping under our A/C unit - a relative or spouse of the deceased, I imagine. It has chewed a hole in our air duct. I'm googling recipes for serving up 'Dilli Gumbo. --cds

Oh My Goodness...

We are here in Florida, safe and sound, but oh my, what a series of events. The driving part was fine, but a 1:00 a.m. arrival, no water and a dead armadillo have strained things a bit. There are good people here, tho, all more than willing to pitch in and help (well, mostly to offer advice). All good, tho. I hope to sift out my camera today to get some pictures - I'll spare you a shot of the dead armadillo. RIP, you smelly, armor-plated little varmint. --cds

Ready and Waiting

The truck is packed and ready to go. Well, in full disclosure, I totally ripped off this photo from the web. But we have a U-Haul all packed up that looks exactly like this on the inside. It's very difficult to sift through 36 years of accumulated stuff, so I'm taking most of it with me. We're waiting for the vehicle transport that will take our vehicles to Florida. Better be soon - there is snow on the mountain. --cds

Packing Up

Not much sewing will occur this busy week as it is pack-up week. Lots of last-minute details to tick off because I am the supreme procrastinator. But next week this time we should be back in Florida, getting organized again and awaiting the arrival of our Utah kids. Grandpa Jim is missing his girls: Well, maybe not so much Daisy Duck - but you never know - those eyelashes, those shoes, that bow - so chic. --cds

Missing My Florida Friends

This is a fun family of Sand Hill Cranes. They hang around the golf course or walk through yards poking into bird feeders. They are LOUD, however, and make sounds like a 10-year old practicing the trumpet. This little guy lives in the dry foliage next door. He doesn't bother me since his head is no bigger than a teaspoon and I think he takes care of small varmits and other creepy crawlies. Pictures may be clicked upon for a zoom-in.
And I miss the beach. --cds

I Miss Them Already

These have all been given away. I think I'll be making more of these little, let's call them spirit-quilts, when I am reunited with all my supplies -- oh yes, I have supplies.



--cds

These Are Addictive

Hand stitching makes me happy. --cds

Stitching

I've been stitching.I'm making a few little quiltlets featuring goddesses because, um... I know some.
--cds