Hoping to get this area cleared out today so I can get to my quilt frame.  I have 2 finished flimsies that I hope to quilt in the next two weeks.

The days are beautiful and we are so happy to be settling into our new home.   

Finally home with the last of our household goods   junk.  Sayin’ goodbye to most of our turtle memorabilia.  Turning over a new leaf……Can you guess what’s creeping into its place? ……….Thanks to DS who is a very very bad influence. 😘

 A vague memory kept trying to surface all the while I was polishing these brass do-hickeys.  And then I remembered those months, 35 or so years ago, polishing the brass each evening in the bar of the pizza parlor where I had worked.  I’ve polished 65 of these now in the house we are fixing up to rent out.  Have another 20 to go in the adjacent studio apartment.  My hands and fingers are so stiff and sore, I may not be able to work on my cross stitch sampler tonight while watching Revenge. Not!

Cabinets looking almost as good as new.

Starting my third quilt top since we’ve been in CA.  This is called Twirl by Fig Tree & Co and I’m using a Jelly roll collection of fabrics called Somerset.  Hard to believe we’ve been here 5 weeks already.  Today we have a new roof going up overhead, appliances being installed in the kitchen and the patio wall outside our apt. repaired.  Sounds like a war zone.

Focusing on matching seams and corners as I sew and listening to easy rock seems to be the best way to stay out of the way.  And that’s fine by me.

Just started a new project.  It is the perfect little something to work on in this little apartment we are living in while FJ works on the remodel next door. The last few months I have been working on secrets so can’t share just now.  Note to self: post photos of finished projects later, gator.   This little quilt project requires some appliqué work and needle turn is my preferred method, but I have never used templates made with freezer paper.  In truth, I never even heard of freezer paper.  Who knew we’d become best friends?

FJ and I spent a quiet New Years Eve at home watching movies on Netflix and finishing Season 1 of Wentworth. FJ built a wood crate for two of our stained glass lamp shades and built a reinforced box around one of our larger paintings.

Today we had a lazy morning but then managed to fill 8 more large boxes of household goods. Tonight we had dinner at Mil’s house. Sil JL made chicken pot pies.  Can you see the cut-out shape of our new home state on the top crusts? Mil made FJ’s favorite dessert: Adele Davis version of pinapple upside down cake.

We got to bring home leftovers!

Santa’s helpers have come and gone.  We shopped and cooked and laughed ourselves silly.  I have so much fun cooking with these two. ( son EE and sil FP ).  We had a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner, 22 guests.  And another 14 for Christmas Day.  Our tradition for the last 12 yrs or so is to draw names and make your gift.  My secret Santa this year was son DE and he made me this very special platter and I love it.  I know he is a little sad we are moving away.

Yesterday, sil FP posted a picture on Facebook of a pair of mosaics pots I had made for him several years ago.  It made my heart smile to know he still enjoys them and has found them a new home too

Last night we boxed up all the Christmas decorations and today we will start packing up household goods to take to our new home.  We’re hoping to get everything moved in two more trips.

I also managed to get my next hand quilting project pin-basted for the car ride up and back.  Actually, I know this will take many months to complete.  This will be Antique quilt #3, origin unknown.

I’m stocking up on some favorites for my VIP guests arriving tonight.

I made taquitos today with leftover roast beef.  These will go in the freezer to have on hand later for guests or whenever.  Avocados are generally plentiful this time of year.  Sure do miss our tree and free avocados.  Tomorrow is our trash pick up and a good time to clean out the fridge.  Need to make room for all the holiday ingredients.  I hate to admit I have 3 refrigerators and still run out of room.