Through hell and high water!

We just returned from a trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico to see our daughter Trystan graduate from St. John's College. Making the trip was a struggle from before we even left. Youngest daughter Michaela and I came down with a ferocious stomach bug the night before we planned to leave. There was no way we were going to be able to spend 8+ hours in a car the next day. We didn't get the motel room canceled soon enough, so we had to pay for it anyway.
By Friday, we still didn't feel very well, and oldest daughter Rachel had caught the bug. Her two little boys had it too, but they all decided to go anyway.
We took off from here at 2 in the afternoon and by stopping at every opportunity to make use of the facilities, we trudged along. Going over the passes we got into a spring snowstorm. We stopped for dinner in Pagosa Springs, where it continued to snow on us (and me in sandals). After dark, as we were crossing the Colorado/NM border, we got into snow that, during the day, would have been called a white-out. The best way to describe it to those who may not have driven in snow like that is to picture the screen in Star Wars or Star Trek when they make the "jump to light speed" and the stars look like they're flying toward you. Except this went on for miles and miles, with my husband peering out the windshield trying to see the center line, which was quickly covered by snow. I could sometimes see the white line out my passenger side window, and we managed to stay on the road that way, if not always in our lane.
We finally made it to Santa Fe, but Rachel and family weren't up to attending graduation on Saturday morning. Those of you who are parents, imagine spending a whole day in an un-babyproofed motel room with a 5 year old boy and a one year old boy who are alternating between vomiting and cabin fever....while you are sick as a dog yourself.
My husband and I and Michaela were able to attend graduation and the party afterward, thinking the worst had passed. By Sunday morning, however, my husband had come down with it. He spent the day in the motel room, and the rest of us had recovered enough to do a little sight seeing at the plaza and the Georgia O'Keeffe museum (where there is a double show with some Ansel Adams photographs--wonderful!).
On Monday we packed up Trystan's belongings and headed for home. About half way here, she came down with it, too.
Both ways, what should be an 8 hour drive was a 10 hour drive, what with one or more of us needing to stop. But we got to see this:

and this:

and finally this:

So it was a fine trip after all.

Three projects

This is a block I did for a graduation-from-college quilt for a nephew. Family members were asked to contribute a block of fabric that represented either themselves or something they think Vinnie will like. I did this one to represent Paul and I, and to commemorate what I've been told is one of Vin's life goals: to see his name written in the sky in geese. I kept the embellishments understated to keep it washable.

This is my final Season to Season block, for summer. It is on its way to Gerry who will send it on to Norma to work on. I used the last of some of my Sassa Lynne threads on the tree trunk, which was supposed to be an aspen. Well, it looks like a tree anyway.....

And this is a block that will be sent to Leslie to join with others for a breast cancer fundraiser. All the blocks are made out of fancy wedding fabrics in white and shades of cream. Embellishments could include a little bit of pale pink, green, yellow, and metallic gold, and the theme is "hearts". The block is shown here in its unembellished state, but I have it nearly done and will post that photo soon. All cream doesn't show up very well in photographs, but maybe if you click on the picture......you'll get a larger blurry cream image.

Maybe I should read this book.....

Take the Quiz here!

I found this quiz on another blog and since my daughter, Trystan, is an avid Jane Austen fan, I had to take it. Have no idea what this means, but maybe she'll tell me.....

And the winners are:

The first name out of the hat is.....Lynn Osse. Lynn gets to choose whether she wants the box or the bear. The second name out of the hat is.....Diane Matheson in Ontario. She will get whichever prize Lynn does not choose.
I want to thank all 36 ladies who responded to my anniversary celebration give-away! Let's do it again next year, okay?

Happy Anniversary to me!

Today makes one year since I started this blog. To celebrate, I'd love to give something away! I have some items left from the craft shows of last fall, and have chosen two of my favorites to offer. First is a velvet box with a CQ top:


And next we have a very soft white teddy bear sporting a shades-of-purple CQ vest.


First place will get to choose which item they wish to receive, and second place will get the other item. To enter, either leave a comment here with your contact info, or email me directly at jcwpopish@yahoo.com.

Snowy May Day, additions to the blue wedge

After having 70+ degree days this week, we woke up this morning to rain and snow and wind. Some May Day! Here's how Jaxon responded to the rotten weather. I honestly don't know how he breathes when he does that.

Here's the changes I've made (so far) to my blue wedge. The orange seed bead "lightning" bolts really did make that orange leaf button look less out of place. Thank you to all who offered suggestions and comments, both here and on CQ4N!

I've been tagged.....

....by Wendy!
How it works: Scattergories: It's harder than it looks! Erase my answers, enter yours, tag 10 people, post it on your blog, then notify them, including the person who tagged you.

"Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following. They have to be real places, names, things.....nothing made up!

Try to use different answers if the person in front of you had the same first initial.

You cannot use your name for the boy/girl name question"

Ok, lets begin:

What is your name: Janet

Four letter word: jump

Vehicle: Jeep

TV Show: Just Shoot Me

City: Jericho Junction, Utah

Boy's Name: John

Girl's Name: Justine

Occupation: Janitor

Something You Wear: Jumper

Food: Jalapenos

Something Found in a Bathroom: jiggly jugs (it's sad, really)

Reason for Being Late: Jumped by a Jaguar

Something You Shout: Jehosaphat!

OK, Who to tag? Wendy already tagged most everyone that I would, so if you're reading this, consider yourself tagged. If you don't have a blog, you could send it by email or just do it in your head. Or don't do it at all. Whatever.