I'm keeping AJ around as my color consultant.  I was wanting to start a baby quilt for a co-worker, and I found the pattern I wanted, but couldn't get the fabrics to look right.  I thought it was the blues and grays not going together, and AJ kept saying it was my white.  I gave up after three trips to the fabric store and worked on another quilt.  Last weekend, I went in and started all over, skipping the white on AJ's advice.  I really like how it turned out!   

We took the dogs for another bike ride yesterday - we are greening up for Spring!  (So are the weeds around here - spraying the weeds in the yard is on my to-do list for the day.....)

Ralph and I made a quick trip to Santa Rosa on MLK Day...and traded in the RAV for a 2017 Volvo XC60 (I think that's what it is anyway.....)  Here they are together in the car lot......

We had beautiful weather going as well - I haven't been to Santa Rosa in years.  Here a shot of the delta as we drove through.....

Last weekend was extremely productive - AJ and I made a clean spot in the garage......

And I got some quilting done, with a little company on the side.....

I also had a business trip to Sac on Wednesday - and once again, the weather was beautiful!  Here's the view from my room:

The score it 1-1 now! AJ and I took the dogs out with the bikes again on Sunday, and I did NOT fall down this time!  Koori was a perfect angel and we got along just fine.  We even road around the neighborhood a bit after we went down the the field.  We went a little later in the day than usual, just in time to catch the sun setting:

I also finished up a baby hat and blanket to go with the baby quilt I made.  The blanket is made out of the same flannel as the backing on the quilt.

It's official....I can no longer run with the big dogs......or bike with the medium dogs, in my case.  Alex has been running Luna on his bike and yesterday was such a beautiful day, I thought I'd run Koori with them.   Before I reached the end of the block, I'd taken a fall.  Luckily, nothing but my pride was seriously injured (though I feel it more this morning...)  A little road rash and bruising, but I sure don't bounce like I used to.  Ouch!  

I re-did the main bath again - new purple towels and a new shower curtain.  I like it!  I got gray towels for our bath, but it isn't very pretty, so no pictures.  I really should decorate in there too, but I just never seem to get around to it.

Alli's aide from school sent me this picture Friday.  They went on an outing to the Mall in Redding, and Alli was enjoying a raspberry frozen drink.

We had a jewelry party here right after New Years, and I did get some earrings and a bracelet made, but most of my time was spent teaching and looking for needed items.  

Leona was over, and she designed her own earrings and bracelet, but had me do the wire work for her.  It isn't hard to do, but she was worried it wouldn't look good if she did it.

My first finished project of 2019!  And just in time - the baby shower was Friday....  It turned out very cute - the back is flannel, so it's nice and soft.  I have enough of the flannel left to make a receiving blanket too.  I have it ready to crochet around. along with another blanket I had from a prior gift that I didn't use.  

Happy New Year!  In many ways, I'm very glad that 2018 is over - such a terrible year in many ways - the Carr fire followed by the Camp fire, Ralph's health deteriorating, stress from all of the above...but it was also a good year.  AJ got to spend time in Japan, and came home happy and healthy, we did some great hikes and adventures together, a cool road trip to Georgia with Margene, time with girlfriends, and time with family.  Here's how 2018 looked to me - these are the photos for my 2019 calendar:

I forgot to post pictures of my ornament from the bank ornament exchange this year!  Tami drew my name this year, and since she had worked in my department before, and we lunch together every few months, she definitely knew what to get me.  My ornament was a beautiful snowflake ornament!

After the ornaments were opened at the breakfast, Tami came over and told me that the snowflake ornament wasn't my 'real' ornament.  But I love it!!!!  Luckily, I didn't have to give it back - she had ordered a 'special' one for me, but it hadn't come in yet.  The next week, this ornament came inter-office to me:

Tami had actually spent several weekends here at my house learning to quilt - she made her very first quilt for her great-granddaughter - who must be 4 or 5 by now - scary!!!

AJ and I took Luna and Koori for a walk on Christmas day.  Lassen got a new cover of snow....

And what is it about water, rocks and boys?  AJ is still trying to 'beat his record' for skipping rocks on the creek - though he said the creek was a lot bigger when he was younger......

And Koori sat so pretty for her picture....

And I, once again, had help putting a quilt together....in this case, I really did have help - AJ (the large bare feet...) was helping me pin it together.  Chewie on the other hand, wasn't helping much at all.

Merry Christmas!!!

I got a little inspired Sunday - Carole did my nails Sunday, and I commented on her cute Christmas tree earrings.  She said she got a kit for them at The Beadman......hmmmmmm....The Beadman is the next building over from the salon, and they were open!  I stopped by and grabbed a couple of kits (20% off!!!) and made a two sets.  Too cute!  I wore the white ones to work on Monday, but the green ones will have to wait until next year now.  Now I want to do more beading - after I finish the baby quilt I have started, the scarves I have started, the blankets that need to be edged in crochet....I may get to that in January, or maybe February.

Indy was hiding from me.....

Happy Christmas Eve!!

Christmas pictures!!!  Here is a group photo of my department Friday at the Christmas Breakfast.

Me getting ready to go to the Christmas party:

My table (at least the ladies....) at the Christmas party.