A new sewing misadventure...I saw a cute little wristlet purse pattern, and thought - I can do that!  Well, sort of.   I did it, but it didn't turn out as planned.  The pattern makes a little quilted purse with a strap attached to a zipper so it is zipped close when it is on your wrist, and and then when it zips open, you can still have the strap on your wrist for stability while you get something out.  Unless you put the zipper in backwards.  Then is is the opposite.  It still works, of course, but the whole idea was that it could be carried on you wrist securely.  It's still cute, and now holds my lipsticks in one place in my purse.  (Note to self - when reading the pattern, pay attention to "left side" vs. "right side" of the instructions.....)

Here's how it is supposed to work.  I had to make another one - just to make it right!! 

More storm pictures.  When I went shopping Saturday morning, the parking lots were littered with leaves - they got a lot more of the hail than we did.

After shopping, I went to Nicholas' 4th birthday party!!!!  Turns out Malorie really got hit by the hail  - or at least her car did.  Her back window was shattered.

One of my co-workers took this photo.  He lives in Lake California.  Awesome shot!  Another co-worker had a photo almost as good from driving up I5.  

A friend from high school lives up by Shingletown, and they got a lightning strike too close to them - their fuse box wasn't happy.....

I think we've had enough....fire, flood, blizzards (okay - not really a blizzard, but you get the idea....Snow-mageddon was really damaging!)  Now it's tornadoes!!

Last night, every cell phone in the house gave an alert and the TV had a huge warning running on the top of the screen...tornado warning!

We didn't get a tornado, but we sure got the hail!!

And the new logo when I logged in on Monday!

And the LAS Team!!!

It's official!  I now work for Merchants Bank of Commerce - or at least when we open our doors on Monday, I will be.  I spent all day yesterday at work for the computer conversion for the bank we bought - Merchants National Bank of Sacramento - in January, and today I go in and change EVERYTHING from Redding Bank of Commerce to Merchants Bank of Commerce (I had no idea all the places the name or logo can hide....).  I do not advice changing computer programs and a name at the same time.  Both are major undertakings, and when added together, are a bit overwhelming.  Here's a screenshot of my computer when I left last night......

Besides working all day yesterday (and 10 hour days the last two weeks prepping for yesterday), we had a garage sale yesterday.  (I hate garage sales!!!)  It was 'The Big Event' here in the neighborhood, and Randy and Lori had two 'extra' houses of stuff to get rid of.  They brought two truckloads of stuff over, and AJ and I cleaned out stuff from the garage and guest house.  While we were cleaning the guest house, Chewie got in AJ's way, so he trashed him.....

We did pretty good - AJ said we got rid of most of my stuff (interior design items I would never use, candles, vases, etc.).  Since my whole intent was to reduce the crap I have, I win!  We didn't sell a couple of the big items I wanted out, but I'm not surprised.  We have an old Nordic Track and a Bowflex machine that no one uses, so they just take up space.  On to plan B for them.....

Happy Mother's Day to me!  I got new yard art for Mother's Day - after a VERY strong hint to AJ from Meredith.  We were shopping on Saturday and found these at Tuesday Morning, and she sent photos to AJ along with the message "What your mom wants for Mother's Day...." message.  It worked, and I love them!  (I think I may need to move the tiki heads though......)

In honor of Mother's Day, I planted flowers - not so much in Mom's memory (since these are annuals and will get pulled out this winter, not what I think of as a memorial planting), but I can't help but think of her when I plant flowers.  

The garden is doing great!  I have pea and cucumber blossoms

And the kale and swiss chard are doing great.

The lettuce, on the other hand, isn't doing so great.

I found the culprit(s) though........

 

First kayaking trip of the year!  It's the first time I've been out on the water since the Carr Fire.  I've driven up to Whiskeytown Lake, but driving by isn't the same as seeing it from the kayaks.

It was still a beautiful evening at the lake...

We fund a pair of eagles hanging out in a tree - posing for photos

And a heron sun-bathing.  I have never seen one like this...

And the obligatory selfie...... 

My latest quilt is off to the quilters.....This was a fun, quick quilt to put together.....

And I have baby beans coming up...

And a baby tomato...

The garden is looking really good right now - but then again, it's Spring.....wait until the summer heat hits it.

We had a beautiful visitor this weekend - I don't see the orange dragonflies very often, and this one hung out for a while with us.

Now this is a happy Birthday  Girl!  We've had nice warm weather here lately (85 yesterday) so the pool water isn't freezing.  Alli got to go swimming on her birthday!  It isn't the first time she's gone swimming on her birthday, but it isn't very common.  Usually, the water is still pretty cool this time of year.

She wasn't sure she wanted to go in.....

But AJ thought she should....

So with a little help... 

That didn't work, let's try this.....

Success!

Happy birthday Alli!!!