Happy Birthday Miss Roxy

Roxy is 11 today.

She sure doesn't look her age.

Some baby pictures, running with Dad:

Posing with Catie (one of Roxy's favorite people in the whole world!)

 

Roxy meets a frog:

 

4th of July

 

Halloween

 

 

At the beach, Roxy is a California girl after all.

 



 

Happy Birthday sweet Roxy, you make us smile everyday.

 

 

 

 

 



 

The Ladies, almost finished

I finished the sky on The Ladies and just have a little bit of the grass to finish.

I think I'm going to add a dark line around the whole mat, it should help define it.

I've been working on designing a mat and I can't decide what I want to do. I've had several ideas but none of them seem right. I'm trying to enjoy the process but it's getting frustrating.

Here is my quail pillow, I like the way it turned out:

Our little community is bustling this weekend. The semi-annual Antique and Peddlers Fair is happening in the park.

It is held on Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. My purchase so far is white enamel pots for dyeing. We'll go back on Monday when everyone is packing up to see if we can get some bargains.

Tomorrow we're going down to Clovis, CA where they are having a Glorious Junk Day. I went last fall and loved the variety of things for sale. Who knows what treasure awaits me?

Hope you're enjoying your Memorial Day weekend.

Til next time, Ronda



Dyeing lesson

Yesterday I went to E's house to learn how to over-dye my wool. It is quite a process, especially using things found in nature.

We used lichen found on the rocks near E's house. She collects it in the winter month when it's easier to get off the rocks.

 

Because it is such a long process E had already boiled and strained the lichen based dye.

 

 

 

Here is the result: (E also used another plant to get a gold color, I forgot the name of that one). The wool in the middle was the original piece. The pink on the right is from the lichen, and the gold was from the unknown (to me) plant.

 

 

Here are two more examples. The wool on the left is the original color.

 

 

 

 

 





I like the way the one above turned out, it's more purple than pink.

Like I mentioned earlier it was a long process but I had some beautiful scenery to look at. This is the view from E's back patio:

 

I could have set there all day enjoying the view.

 

But E had other entertainment for me. She had just returned from a 10 day trip to Monument Valley and I got to see her amazing pictures. She went on a tour where you take your horse, camp in the valley and take horseback tours of the valley. I got E's permission to share one of her pictures:

 

 



I told you they were amazing, they didn't look real. She even got to go shopping on horseback, how cool is that?

As promised I took a picture of E's rug. This is the picture I posted the other day:

 

Here is where E is now:

 

 

I had a great time yesterday and am worn out today. Think I'll work on designing my next rug.

 

Til next time, Ronda



 

Wool Poppies

On Saturday I went to the monthly meeting of Wool Poppies Rug hookers, I paid my yearly dues so I'm now a official member. These Ladies are so talented. Karla finished hooking Jack's Ride:

I wish the picture did it justice, it is an amazing piece of work.

Katie is working on abstract flowers, it's going to be a bright and happy rug.

Gail is still working on her airplane rug, I didn't take a new picture of this rug but she has almost half of it finished now.

 

I didn't do a very good job of taking pictures. Cai is working on a rug of a a flying purple pig that is so cute but I didn't get a picture of it either. I'm still working on the background of The Ladies, I'll try to remember to take a picture and post it soon.

 

Tomorrow I'm going to E's house to learn how to dye wool. E is an amazing artist and uses natural dyes so I'm excited to have her teach me. E uses a very fine cut of wool to hook her rugs, it's a 3 cut, about the thickness of a fine yarn. I love the sky in her rug:

 

 

Today I went to my second water aerobics class and had fun. I learned that a Physical Therapist came up the with the exercises, that explains a lot.

 

My roses are blooming. I look out my kitchen window and smile.

 

 

My repeat blooming hydrangea has it's first bloom of the season with others not far behind. I was worried because we had a late snow that damaged it and then an early heat wave that did more damage, it's a pretty hardy plant to have survived.

 

 

I'll try to remember to take pictures at Earlene's tomorrow.

 

Til next time, Ronda

 

 



Chowchilla Fair

Yesterday I didn't post any pictures so I'll make up for it today.

Today MM and I went to the Chowchilla Fair.

 

Chowchilla is a small farming town in central California. The fair was small and centered around the town as it should be. For instance here is the art display:

 

 

How fun it must be for the kids to come to the fair and find their work on display.

 

This painting won first place in the kindergarten category:

 

 

This wonderful piece of art won 2nd place in the Pre-school category:

 

 

I loved it because the artist thought outside of the box. We all know that coloring within the lines is boring.

 

There was also some unique categories:

 

 

Decorating brooms? Who would of thunk it?

 

There were a few quilts, this one won Best Quilt in the adult category: (Rose it reminds me of your heart wall hanging).

 

It was hanging above my head so it was difficult to get a good picture.

 

It wouldn't be a fair without the 4H. This little one was loving her chicken.

 

 

And livestock. We really enjoyed the goofy goats:

 

 

 

Hey, get us out of here!

 

 

I think this sheep took a chill pill.

 

 

We must have come at nap time.

 

MM had to pet a goat. He would have one if he could.

 

 

After we left the livestock we went to the races, Alaskan Pig Races, of course.

 

 

 





 

Ah, now we know what motivates them, the food trough at the end of the track.

 

After the races and lunch we went to the tractor pull:

 

 

Kids raced on petal tractors and like regular tractor pulls they pulled sleds with weights on them. The weight was based on the kids age. From the picture above it would seem unfair but don't worry in most cases the little kids won.

 

 

We really enjoyed ourselves and on the way out we saw one of the Fair Princesses:

 

 



A cowboy hat and a tiara what could be cuter?

 

Tomorrow is the Wool Poppies monthly meeting, hopefully I'll be able to finish "The Ladies". I'm frustrated because I can't decide on a design for my next mat, being creative isn't easy.

 

Til next time, Ronda















I did it!

There will be no pictures in this post, believe me you wouldn't want to see picture of this adventure.

The weather has warmed up which means that water aerobics has begun. Last year I was going to go but I was still working so I wasn't able to. On Wednesday I finally got up the courage to go and believe me wearing a bathing suit where other people would see me took a lot of courage.

I had a lot of time to reconsider while I was getting ready, putting sunscreen on took a long time. I got the dreaded bathing suit on, put on the cover-up, gathered towel, water, visor, sun glasses and then like a kid decided I needed to use the bathroom. (I know TMI) Note to self, get dressed AFTER you get everything together.

There were 3 other brave women and we had a great time. Who knew you could cross country ski, ride a bicycle, rock like a rocking horse, do the twist, jog, and do some yoga in the swimming pool?There was also jumping jacks and arm curls.

Water aerobics is on M,W,F if I go to most of them by the end of summer my body could be toned up. If not I'll have a nice tan. Don't count on an "after" picture either.

Pickleball update: MM and I are tied 4 games to 4. You only get a point on your serve so a game takes a long time. We're getting better we each have made some awesome shots but they weren't done on purpose.

Next time I post I'll show you my completed Quail pillow.

Til then, Ronda

Oak Creek Ladies Do Lunch

Yesterday several of the ladies from our community went to lunch at the Tenaya Lodge just outside of Yosemite National Park.

 We had perfect weather to sit outside on the terrace.

Being outside was nice, it was quiet and we were able to visit and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

Everyone enjoyed their meals, there were burgers, salads, lettuce wraps, calamari and even tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches. After the main course....dessert.

Cheesecake:

Molten Chocolate cake:

Fresh fruit, which everyone had to try:





There was also a caramel apple pie that I didn't get a picture of.

I was very nervous about going on this outing, I didn't sleep well the night before. I really didn't know anyone so I was out of my comfort zone. I decided this would be a good opportunity to meet and get to know some of the ladies from the community 

When we got to lunch we were seated with the people we had driven up with, which was okay but there were 3 other tables of ladies I didn't know, soooooo I had to get uncomfortable again. As we were waiting for our lunches I went around to each table to meet them, pushy huh? They were very nice and I hope I can remember most of their names.

All in all it was a good day and I'm glad I went.

Til next time, Ronda