Quilt Show

This weekend is the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Show in Hampton. It's a VERY large show that brings people from all over the country for the classes, the vendors, and the quilts.

I signed up for a class on Saturday afternoon, so that let me into the preview night, last night.

SENSORY OVERLOAD!

I certainly wish I was independently wealthy, with nothing but time on my hands. There are so many fabrics that I want. So many neat gadgets. So many cool machines. WHEW!

I picked up a couple of things last night (can't show pictures, because I never know who's reading this, and if it may spoil a surprise at some point). I drooled over many more things, and marveled at the talent.

It just makes me wish that I could quilt all day....

I'll be going back tomorrow, and spending much more time, and narrowing down what I can actually afford to purchase, and on Saturday, I'll take the stained glass class I signed up for.

A few years ago, I bought a stained glass pattern because it looked easy... Similar to the one below. But then couldn't figure out the particulars.... This class promises to make it simple.

So, we'll see... Either way, stay tuned for some finished projects soon!

AMW

40th Birthday

Saturday, I turned 40. I guess I was a little nervous about. But not too bad... When I turned 30, I nearly thought it was the end of the world. And then my life got turned upside down, and at 35, I finally realized what it was to live my own life!

In these last 5 years, I've met some amazing people that have all touched my lives in different ways. I was fortunate enough to have a lot of them come out and celebrate with me as well as a few friends that I've known longer.

Here are some pictures from the day....

I had flowers delivered in the afternoon from my aunt and 3 cousins. They were beautiful, and filled with daisies, which happen to be one of my favorite flowers! What a cheery way to start the day!

Paul's Restaurant, which I featured here, opened just for us to have our little get-together.

There was PLENTY of Corona Light on ice, just waiting to be consumed. I did MY part!!!

It was decorated with all of the obligatory black balloons, and the place look great!

More decorations...

The best part, however, was EVERYONE! So much fun to have so many important people there to help me bring this decade in with style!

Of course, the CAPTAIN and his PRIVATE STOCK showed up, too. He's the BEST!

And the cards! I've never laughed so hard... Who knew that a bunch of over-the-hill cards could be so funny. Especially after the first few.... But they were all GREAT!

Definitely a night I will remember forever...

Thanks everybody! My bucket overflows!

AMW

Winter Olympics

Man - I have really gotten into the winter olympics this year.

I've always enjoyed the olympics, and I'll freely admit that the summer games are more to my liking, since I'm a much bigger fan of the warm weather than the cold.

But this year, I've really been bitten by the games.

Unfortunately, I still have to get up for work in the mornings, so I end up falling asleep while watching something I really wanted to watch!

Are you watching? What's your favorite thing to watch? Snowboarding? Ice Skating? Curling?

AMW

2010 SnowPocolypse

Earlier here I reminisced about a snow storm that happened when I was young. Now, through pictures, I'll tell you all about the big storm of 2010. A much different scene for me. I really enjoyed this storm, and had a lot of fun...

This was about 10:30 in the morning on Saturday. It was still snowing, but this was the earliest measurement. About 5 inches and steadily falling.

This was the back patio, around the same time-frame. See those two bowls on the table?

These two bowls? They are the collection bins for SNOW CREAM!

I remember having snow cream growing up. My grandmother would make it. But I had never tried it... It was REALLY yummy!!

We also picked that day to try to make sushi for the first time. It was really easy with the SUSHEZI! And good. This was avacodo, cream cheese and crab.

Of course, we HAD to go out and play. Casey just watched for bit. She's seen snow before, but not nearly this much...

I almost lost her in it at one point. It was up to her underbelly. Good thing she's so dark!

And I finally got her to sit still enough to take a good picture. She wasn't happy about sitting in it though. What a trooper!

Now some shots from around the yard...

The two suns and crab didn't seem too bothered by it all.

By Sunday morning, the icicles were growing bigger and bigger.

Guess we won't be grilling on these this weekend.

Sunday, we also decided to take a drive by the water. It's only a couple of blocks and I wanted to get some pictures. Of course.

This was one of the first things I saw. Beautiful, huh?

We also saw this guy. Wasn't 100% sure what I was seeing at first, but you'll see below and hopefully you'll be as amused as I was...

Yep. Cross-country skiing in SE VA by the bay.

And a great sport he was. I opened the window, held out the camera, and he just grinned.

And I almost missed this guy, cause I was facing the water. See him? On a snowboard?

That's him again being pulled behind that pick-up truck!

LOVE IT!

Lots of folks were out walking dogs. These two where just enjoying the day and each other!

I loved how the sun was shining so bright, and the snow was overlooking the water.

It was the most snow our area had seen in a long, long time. Nearly shut the entire metro area down. Took a long time to clear it all up, and kids were out of school until Wednesday or Thursday for a storm that happened on Saturday.

But it will be a storm that people will remember for years to come.

I know I will! How about you? What did you do that was memorable?

AMW

Little Things

You know, sometimes it's the little things that just make my day...

I've been having car trouble.

I basically had no power steering. Spoiled? YES!

I thought that my power steering pump was bad, and that it would cost an arm and a leg. And since I like both of my arms and legs, I had been putting off getting it fixed.

But after last weeks snow storm, I realized it HAD to fixed. So I took it to the dealer.

When they called to tell me it was ready, they said it was the power steering belt. And that my old belt had chunks missing out of it. UGH.

And when I went to pick it up and pay, the total cost was $53.00.

$53.00!!!

AWESOME!

To get out of the dealership for $53.00 MADE.MY.DAY! Hell, it MADE.MY.WEEK!

WOOHOO!

Drove it, loved it.

I think I can parallel park again!

YEAH!!!!

AMW