Golden Oasis

A Beautiful Day in Paradise

My daughter was at her daily band camp at the high school and I had just exercised in the garage (my gym) I went outside to relax and have some water when I was stuck how beautiful it was...so after my shower my son and I were off to enjoy it! I have to re-visit this place at least twice a year. Cabrillo National Monument at Point Loma, CA (the point at the opening of the bay in San Diego) It was high tide so the 'tide-pools' gave a different perspective.

(please click all for full effect!)

This old lighthouse is the first of 8 lighthouse built on the West Coast. I love the little bedroom inside the lighthouse...note the crochet work on the mantel and of course the quilt on the bed.

In another building is the Fresnel lens. There are six 'orders' (sizes) of Fresnel lens depending on the need of the lighthouse. This is something I didn't not know until yesterday. The joy of learning new things! Scroll into the Wikipedia section and it will give more details on this fascinating detail of lighthouses.

Afterward, we went to the SUB base, stopped by Subway (how appropriate, right?), and went to the end of the base and found a picnic table and we had a show. It was Monday, so work was in progress. The USS Nimitz cruised by...(aircraft carrier) for a week trip. We saw a Coast Guard ship leave and various helicopters and military planes were doing their thing as well as many sail boats. The security boats doing their training or maneuvers while the ships went safely out. Many people do not realize the change of port security after Sept. 11th...just sit in any major port and you will see the difference! In the background on the sub base was some indoor ammunition going off.  This lunch was like sitting in a live movie theater! What a wonderful time my son and I had just sitting there enjoying our subs while enjoying and being thankful for all of those that are out there protecting our country and our ports! 

the city view in the background..after the aircraft carrier passed. I'm being discreet as I am on a base after all...

For us to just sit at our colorful table peacefully and with ponder...was grand.

"Q" is for...

Quilts!

I learned how to quilt in 1993. I took a class making a block-a-session resulted the quilt under my desk tea pot! The yellow one with houses I struggled through...with all the little pieces and even at the end -I didn't not like it. However, I put it up on my office wall when I was working as a bookkeeping at a commercial real estate office in Florida- it fit right in!

The little bird house wall hanging is my favorite...it was my very first quilting class when I didn't even own a sewing machine (although I knew how to use one from my mom's) I did the small piece entirely by hand!

I do not pretend to know how to take pictures of these small quilts! Note: the quilt behind the house one is a queen size quilt of my own design waiting VERY patiently to be quilted! It's been almost four years...  I feel like I've dropped out of the quilting realm. Although, I love anything about quilts...fabric is as addicting as yarn...tools (could actually be worse than knitting tools)..I feel passion there, but it's just hibernating. If only I had that craft room... it can be bulky to have everything around on top of table...where knitting and crocheting can be compact. See? THAT is why I need a craft room! 

ok, ok, ok

OK...so Pluto isn't a planet....oh shoot just mess up my place in this world! Something you are used to knowing since grade school...we were taught lies...I tell ya'! I love space, love NASA...but what is the point in this?   

My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine..Pickles    (MVEMJSUNP for list of planets)  ok, Pickles are out the window...

One thing that causes you to love your husband even more ...the following statement:

"You need a craft room...I'm gonna get you a house with a craft room"

ahhh...enough said.

A felted bag!

Before

After

 

Pattern:  Canteen Bag design by Rachel Battaglia nissen Interweave Knits Fall 2005

Yarn:  Lopi Reynolds color #0014 (forest green)100% Icelandic Wool & Cascade 220 #7824 (dark orange)100% Peruvian highland wool

Needles: Clover Bamboo Size 11 29" circular & size 10 1/2 double-pointed needles

This doesn't deserve a title

I waited in line for FIFTY (50) minutes ...with rude kids trying to cut in line and then when I let it be know to one 'boy' and his friends...how long I've been in this line...he said with his snotty voice I've been here too...I said, "No you haven't" his response, "ohhh, weelll"  I did everything to avoid saying to him, "It's not 'oh well', it's yes ma'am"   then had to endure the HUGE sunglass wearing (you know the Hollywood type with rhinestones that takes up half the face) talking so EVERYONE can hear them, "LIKE, Oh my gaawg..."------it was a VERY long 50 minutes for THIS:

The lady behind me said to the boy that persisted to try to over step us, "Oh hon, you know you weren't in this line and I'm not letting you in, so go find a friend" Where does he go...UP the line and cuts in...of course other people don't have the guts to say anything to this 'too big for his britches' boy and his friends......It's going to take me another 50 minutes to answer this rainbow bull****...  welcome to high school.  CA is very beautiful, but it can be very rude.  Just recently we were at a local restaurant...where most people have quiet conversations among themselves quietly...well, a younger girl was just talking like she was in her own house, asking the guy (who was on a cell phone) what the caller had said...talking as loud as if she was at a party. I don't know... perhaps experiencing many parts of the country ..my thoughts on what's acceptable and what's not- is different.

Battery Failure

Wouldn't you know it? When Typepad is being fast..my battery is dead! I can't show you the 'Golden Tumbleweeds of Hair' that I am about to clean up! Granted, I do a great job at housecleaning, but if I go over my three day limit with this Golden...since we live with our windows open with small fans placed just right to blow in the cooler air actual long hair that comes off of her...rolls up into tight little rolls along the carpet looking either like tumbleweeds or those  rolled hay-bales you see out West! It's actually kind of humorous! 

There is some hot weather on the way, so my husband got the approval to get a window AC unit. I think it was very courageous of a young lady from our Navy housing to call Channel 10 news and let them feel what it felt like in our houses during that heat wave!!!....the pressure was on for the civilian company that manages our housing to lift the rule that AC units are only allowed if you have an Exceptional Family Member (medical and authorized in person's service record.....which requires future orders to be only to places that have the proper medical facilities, etc....as I understand it)  90 degrees in a house isn't healthy for ANYONE let alone people who do indeed have medical problem!  I didn't even THINK of calling the news! Kudos to her for getting something done about this! Now, it's the issue of being able to actually find one in the stores!

What people do in San Diego..

..on an absolutely beautiful glorious lazy afternoon on summer break!!!

"P" is for.....

This is a book that I finished reading aloud to my children! Yes, my children are not little babies, but they enjoyed listening to my different intonations throughout while reading about poor Pinocchio antics and choices!

Perhaps, my brother will recognize this book..

I love older books and this series of classic children stories has a copyright of 1947. I have the whole series, I believe. Now, Brother, to avoid a sibling fight in cyberspace...I don't remember when I was given these, but they are yours and has your name inscribed in all. If it's any consolation....your nephew is getting use of them :)

Now....to leave you with a "P" of a special kind! Yours truly..drinking out of a "P"ickle jar! (actually it was a relish jar) My daughter thought it would be neat if I posted this...so on her request...no makeup, no attempt at the hair...just me during one of those ultra hot days chillin' with some iced coffee (used Splenda) in a jar that I was saving for a future first attempt at glass painting...we'll see, so here is your "P"J!

(please don't click)  ok... yea, right! that's like putting a sign "Wet Paint"...of course your going to touch to see if it's really wet...com' on.... Just to note my daughter also thinks it's 'ghetto' to drink out of a relish jar...he-he) ..but when it's 90 inside...you drink out of anything you can find!!!!!!

Just a small break

I'm busy setting up my new computer and putting my older one...well, the new one I got in March ;) in the back desk, catching up with my 'real' work (which is harder now that the kids are home), & enjoying the summer with the kids! My husband for the first time EVER is missing ship's movement because of some series of gum surgeries...it will be great that he misses this 15 days or so because after that he will be going on the 6 month cruise :(   SO...I'm behind in posts and behind in reading all my wonderful beautiful blogs, but I'm STILL HERE....oh, and the greatest news my brother and sister-in-law are coming for a visit for the last week this month.... SO...I need a tinsy-wensy break and I'll be back very soon and may poke my head in to post my "P" photo ;)

Morning Confusion

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE? (please click)

Now, don't let my incredibly fuzzy brain even start thinking!!!!   I can just imagine the seven dwarfs out there shaking the trees or something...while cinderella picks out the rotten ones...and 101 dalmations (or maybe pluto) thinking they are all tennis balls...donald duck leading the pack while mickey is the CEO....         never mind. WHAT is up with this?????   SO eating my piece of fruit I can't escape from commercialism?? It's bad enough that the number explains that I'm eating something pumped up with who knows what......Ok, back to your regular blog reading while I support my 'healthy eating'.  I've lost a pound and I don't ever want to find it again!!!!

...just in case you are interested... perhaps I should feel privileged today to have such a fruit..from a tree of life or something in Animal Kingdom.    Don't ask me what this 'fruit thing' is with me lately....I will change the subject one of these days my dear readers!...but this takes the cake.

Good day.