Great Romance and Bad Romance (Thanks Lady Gaga)

We just love this song.  We have Dropcams in our home, so whenever we dance a video is automatically generated.  

It was Vicky's birthday.  So we had a dance party.

The girls sewing together this spring.....Stella’s first sewing project!

This is Stella’s big year.  She is a year younger than I was when I started sewing and a year younger than Marina was when I started to teach her to sew her first outfit, but Stella has already made pillowcases and curtains and can focus and stick with a project.  And she has been jumping at the bit! I decided this was her year to get her own sewing kit, fabric, a pattern of her choosing, and start sewing.

So off we all went this spring to the fabric store, Marina and Stella to pick out the materials they would need for their project, me as a consultant, and Grandpa to nod “yes, very pretty” and be our VISA card for the final purchases.  Oh, and Grandpa is also expected to be in the fabric shop the WHOLE time....1-1/2 hours.  He was very patient and didn’t even roll his eyes.  Actually, he really likes to watch the girls and me be so happy and “girly.”

Stella decided to make a bag, but she could not have picked out a more complicated pattern for a first project.  She will need to piece together several different fabrics, put in stiff interfacing, make a handle, and fully line the bag.  The bag will be completed with such precision that it will be reversible.  Wow, Stella, you will be learning a lot, so put on your thinking cap!

Marina wanted to make a pretty dress.  She chose a blue fabric because this is her favorite color.  Since she wanted to learn sewing techniques that she hasn’t mastered, she found a pattern where she will learn how to add sleeves to the bodice and put in a zipper.  Marina is very slender, so she will need to continually do fittings so her dress will not look like a sack, but will compliment her figure.  Marina also decided to add black lace to the hem of her sleeves and dress.  This will give it a pretty frill and make this pattern her very own.

I am really looking forward to helping both of them with these challenging sewing projects!  What fun for a Grandma.....and once again, Grandpa‘s job will be to admire their progress and cheer us along.

Marina can now read a pattern and sew mostly without my help.  She asks for help during the difficult or confusing parts or when she is learning a new technique.  This shows not only her confidence in herself,  but also her wisdom.  It also means that I can spend most of my time helping Stella learn sewing techniques.

Marina and Stella sewing together this year:





















Stella loves to iron...one of her favorite things about sewing:




By the end of Stella’s project, she was sewing on her own.











Making sure Grandpa thinks everything looks good:








Stella’s bag....beautiful, both her and her bag!




Stella finished her bag before Marina, so on sewing days Stella came over and happily worked on jewelry and artwork.










Marina getting her dress to fit just right:






.....and more sewing to take in the side seams.






.......and ironing and more ironing.



Almost done except for the hem and adding the lace. Here we are pining up the hem of Marina’s dress:




Marina’s in her new dress...she looks lovely!







The girls wanted to enter their sewing projects in the County Fair, so they spent an afternoon at our home working on posters.  They picked out the pictures they thought best represented their work with Grandpa and he ordered these pictures for them. They glued the pictures on the poster and next to the picture described each step of their sewing.

It was a fun afternoon and their posters look great!

Our home: A nature preserve

We recently had a woman come to our house to do some work for us.  Later she remarked how our home seemed to be a nature preserve, with so many wild animals.

She is correct.  First, we have 15 bird feeders.  This time of year they will need filling every other day.  At any time there might be 20-25 brightly colored tropical birds, including hummingbirds.  We also see several types of woodpeckers. 

There are so many that about 4:30 every morning we have to close our windows--they are a chirping symphony right outside our windows!

Because of the bird feeders we also have an abundance of gray squirrels, Douglas squirrels, and chipmunks (probably also some rats which we don't see but are always here).  They like the bird feeders too because the birds are messy and drop stuff on the ground.

A few times every summer we will see a Bald Eagle soar over our house.

And at night, owls hoot.  And hoot.

We also have deer, rabbits, and coyotes. 

Here is a recent addition to our wildlife.  Isn't this beautiful?  He/she has been hanging around for a few days now--sharing the flowers with dozens of bees and the hummingbirds.

Vicky 68th birthday.....fifty years since I graduated from High School....in 1968!

I graduated from high school in 1968, fifty years ago. Today I will be 68 years old...unbelievable!  Fifty years ago and somehow I still feel like a young girl.  Dan and I recently read somewhere that the tragedy of getting old is that you still feel young.  So true.

I may be old in years, but that is not going to change how I feel.  I feel young and intent to live young.  Each day is a gift and I will embrace this gift.  

I had a very happy birthday with Dan at our home.  Emily, Sean, and the boys sent me a special book about women who have made great scientific contributions to the world.  I will certainly enjoy reading this book. Thank you!

Dan gave me loving cards and a set of vintage plates he had found.  They were made in Mexico and are absolutely perfect for our new home in the southwest, Nuestra Casa.

I love them and I love Dan!

Our 500th bike ride together

A great ride to have met this milestone.  The Apple Century ride in Wenatchee.  It is our 6th time doing it with Jules.

We had our photo taken at an important part on the ride--Deadman Hill.   Each year this hill gets easier.

500 Rides in 6 1/2 years.  12827 miles.