Home Again

I'm home again. Back to Eureka, land of the redwoods, fog, and cool weather year round. While I was in Minnesota we had some hot weather (well into the 90's) and the last day or two were pretty cool with overcast skies and a few raindrops here and there. When I arrived in Eureka who would have thought we'd have a warm sunny day! On Tuesday morning we went down to the photography studio and Grandma had her picture taken with Jakob and Sadies. I'll post them when they come. Sadies wore the dress her Mom Beka made. Bekas first garment. I think it turned out beautifully!

It was so nice to be with Mercedes as she toddled around. She was saying new words every day and such a little mimic.

Jakob kept the garden watered each day...he's all smiles for this picture. I know and admit I'm very prejudiced, but I think I have the cutest grandkids around.

I loved every minute of my visit, but it was time to come home. Mr. Scottie Dog had the house all clean and tidy and he'd done lots of jobs around the house. Liz had worked so many hours to keep the store running. A big thank-you to them both for picking up a lot of my jobs so I could hug and kiss on the grandbabies.

While I was in the Midwest, Mr. Scottie Dog made a planter for the Scottie Dog store. It was made of recycled wood...some of our old floor joists, parts of our girls' tree house that blew down in a past storm and some tongue and groove from somewhere else. I love the "old" look of it. He filled it with dirt and it was waiting for Sydney and I to plant the flowers on Friday. It's going to be Syd's job to keep them watered. We picked fuchias, violas, lobielia, allisym, petunias and more. Come see our flowers grow!

Beka's Beautiful Eureka! Quilt

Finished! Beka is not only a willing, but a very able quilting student. I brought with me a pile of Asian fabrics and the pattern "Eureka!" by Maple Island Quilts. She has a two storey wall in her entryway and wanted to make a quilt that would hang most of the year. She already has a couple of seasonal ones, but this one is really something.

First she had to decide which fabrics to use, then she had to learn how to cut free motion curves with a rotary cutter. THEN she had to sew those curves on the sewing machine. Not a beginner's project by any means, but one quick lesson and she took off. There is a lot of design involved with this kind of quilt. No two will ever look the same. I love this quilt.

I'm proud of Beka and her skill and artistic eye. She's got several pieces left over and plans to make some pillows, table runners and more using the curved technique.

Footnote for those who live close enough to Scottie Dog Quilts to take a class......I'm teaching this once or twice in the next quarter. Call the shop for dates & times.

Outdoor Fun

At Beka & Jason's townhouse they have a large green lawn area, some trees & shrubs that are nicely maintained by the association. It's a benefit not to be the one who has to mow, trim, fertilize all that outside greenery, but it also means that you have no place where you get to choose to plant flowers or vegetables.

Beka got the kids a little pool for up on the deck that doesn't have to be brought in each day and while Sadies threw toys into the pool Beka, Jakob and I filled some pots with flowers. Beka had a red, white & blue theme idea and her pots and deck-side
flower boxes are gorgeous.

Jakob is going to water the pots each day. Here he is with his initial watering. Yesterday all the pots were dutifully watered but early this morning we had some rain. Jakob was convinced that "God watered the pots today."

We're barbecuing later today on the deck. Still having a ball in Minn.

Another Full Day

Wednesday was another full day in Minnesota. We went to Mom's Group at Beka's church. There were about 25 moms (2/3 of them pregnant!) and more babies, toddlers and not-yet-old-enough-for-school aged kids....I couldn't begin to count! The babies have a nursery to go to and the other kids go to "Pre-School." This week Jakob wanted to sit with us so he played quietly for one and a half hours. It's pretty informal, they sit around small round tables and there's coffee, popcorn (both sweet or salty, your choice) and homemade goodies. A few of the gals share a little, there's some general chatter & sharing and then more treats and sharing when the kids are released back to their moms. Then Jakob and all the little boys race and run from one end of the foyer to the other. They love to run.

Bethany College is right next to the church so Beka called Jason and he was able to get away for lunch with us. I offered to treat (big whoop! we were going to Costco!!! Grandma is the last of the big spenders!). They found a freezer they'd been needing so we carted that home too.

Back home, and Beka went to her job at Lifetime Fitness and I got to watch the kids. Sadies took a nap and Jakob and I ate Popsicles on the deck, watered all the flowers, read books and watched "Curious George."















When Daddy came home we got the wagon out and went to McCann Park, only 1 block from their house. I love this old barn that seems a bit out of place in the middle of suburbia.





First off we hit the swings. The wind was a'blowing and Sadies loved it. Jakob wanted always to go higher. Even Grandma swung a bit.




There were slides and so much more.






Jakob loves the climbing wall. Grandpa took him here last winter when the snow was deep. No snow today! Jakob just went right up to the top and tried to go over but Daddy came to the rescue.
It was a fun day...hot again but rain predicted for today (and a bit cooler temps.).

Tuesday was a busy day!

Today, Tuesday was a busy day in Minnesota. We started out with a trip to Golden Valley, a bit north of Minneapolis where Beka was doing a 'taste test' for a consumer testing company. She does it every once in awhile. Today wasn't actually a "taste" test, really a packaging test for granola bars. She had to pick boxes for several brands that she might buy or those she wouldn't buy and tell why. While she was doing that, Jakob and I were playing on the grass and Sadies slept in the car right next to us. Jakob and I poked at an ant hill, whacked a tree with long sticks, chased birds, blew a ton of "ripe" dandelion puffballs, sang songs and generally had a great time.

It was in the 90's today so shorts and flip flops were perfect!






Then we went to Eagle Creek Quilt Shop in Shakopee. Sadies wanted to show all of you how she now walks! She started walking on Mother's Day and now it's like she's always walked.

This is a great shop so if you are in the area, be sure to stop by. They are located in a refurbished Train Depot in Shakopee and the trains still run right beside the store!











We bought some of the Hungry Caterpillar fabrics for Beka. See the cutie pie on the little chair?




















After lunch we hit the nursery.....Beka's townhouse has an awesome deck and we got some cute plants for her pots and planters....red, white & blue flowers and one mini pepper plant. We'll plant them tomorrow.

Errands, errands and more errands. We made it back home in time to blow up the swimming pool for a quick dip by the little ones. While filling the pool, Jakob turned and hit me with the sprinkler right in the face! Tell you what....it felt wonderful. But I had a date with two dear friends from the Minneapolis/St. Paul area at Timber Lodge Steakhouse.







No, these two cuties aren't my quilting friends.....








Here we are: Sally, me and Carol. We belong to the Sunshine Quilting Guild
and make quilts for needy children of the world. I've had the privilege of knowing them for years and we trade visits here in Minn. and they have come to CA to Scottie Dog Quilts Mystery Quilting Retreats.

Thanks again, I had a wonderful time.






Home again, jiggedy jig. Thanks Jason for putting the kids to bed. Beka and I had fun.

Saturday in Minnesota

I spent Saturday morning with the grandbabies while Beka and Jason went on their newspaper run (they deliver bundles of newspapers to various stores and gas stations. We had fun, watched a little PBS TV kids shows, read some books and tickled each other.

After lunchtime they came home and Beka and I made Baklava. Lots of Baklava.....Baklava for 120! Here it is in the kitchen. Looks good, right? Um, um...it tasted heavenly! On Sunday we (with the help of several Bethany College students) served a "Taste of the Mediterranean" luncheon as a fundraiser for the Bethany College Library. Spaghetti with Pesto, Pene Pasta with marinara, garlic bread, antipasto plate. It was a luscious meal.


















Here's a close-up of the Baklava. Mouth watering yet?



















I'm going to make this again. We had a great recipe and it was really easy. Mr. Scottie Dog likes Baklava so I guess I'd better make some for him.