Tractor Work

 There is enough yard work to keep us busy every Saturday of the summer. This time, a tree came down and it is too high to reach. Let's see what we can do.

Problem solved.

Welcome to Lake Tahoe!

Our first family reunion at Lake Tahoe with the Willards! We stayed near the state border at a great resort.

Calvin went shopping for t-shirts and found a Brazil jersey. He is pretty confident that he will be called to serve in Brazil. We'll see!

We rented some kayaks so Frazier and Calvin could run around on the lake.

Marnie isn't very adventurous in the water, but she does love to throw rocks and put her feet in.

Paul and I had pool duty when the kids wanted to swim.

I've never seen such crystal clear water! The elevation is 6,200' so the air is a bit thin, but at 75 degrees, it's perfect weather!

Stanwood Fair

 We love going to the Stanwood Fair. Mostly I enjoy the quilts and the animals, but there's always time for a few rides. There is a little measuring to do and few tickets to purchase, and then screaming.

A Quilter's Home

I've been working on a quilt for a Quilt University class online. I believe the adage that the first 50 drawings should go in the garbage. It takes a long time to flesh out a good design.

This is just from my sketchbook. Not everything is easy to translate into fabric. Most things are fused.

Here's the first row. I decided to go a little brighter on the trees and subdue the houses so they appear further in the distance.

The lights in the house are silk and since it unravels so much, I've cut out the windows and put the silk underneath. During class, Lorraine told me I needed more balance on the sides and something at the bottom. 

There she is, finished. It's hard not to touch the little sparkling windows. Thank goodness for Heat 'n Bond and a quilting machine. A simple practice piece can become a pretty piece of art.

Buying a New Bed

 Over the years we've had great successes and terrible failures choosing beds. Our first bed was a double from Grandma Helen's mom. It was exceptionally small. Katie never slept with us. When we got to Lubbock, we bought a king sized bed. It saved our marriage. That Serta Perfect Sleeper lasted for 20 years. 

Then we bought a Sealy from Costco that I swear lasted 6 months. The above shot is the old bed that had to go. And this was the new bed. It didn't last long.

We decided to just pay the money and get a good bed. Although it is really firm, there is no movement, so when one of us gets up, the other doesn't feel it. Sometimes I imagine I'm on the beach because it feels like wet sand. That headboard is from my parents' bed. We shipped it up from San Diego years ago.

The Garden calls...

It's so difficult for me to be inside when there is gardening to do!

This particular rose may be a Charles Lawson. I found it on the property and moved it to a better location. But it continues to send up shoots in its previous home. It wanders on its own roots through butterfly bushes and vinca major. The deer don't eat it when surrounded by plants they hate.

David's Wedding

Calvin's good friend invited him to be his best man at his wedding. We enjoyed the afternoon in Seattle with many of his friends and some great music. Calvin performed his duties very well and even accompanied David in a song for his new wife.