And...one finished quilt top...

 Not my fav, once it all went together, but making the individual blocks was fun.

Just a cute photo today...

 

Happy belated Thanksgiving!  We did the normal - I cooked for Ralph's family Thursday, and went to Jeff's on Saturday with my family.

I also found a few more photogs from my trip to Tonna's.

 

I took yesterday off to get some errands done (and just to get a mental break!)  I even took the dogs for a walk!  Since we've had Ripley, we haven't allowed her off-lead in the field.  Yesterday, I decided it was time to give it a try.  Bad idea.  She (and Luna) took off like a shot and neither listened one bit!  I was counting on Luna at least listening to me, and maybe bringing Ripley back with her, but that was not how it happened.  

We have a pack of coyotes that live in the berry bushes in the field, and that is exactly where they went.  The good news - once they ran down and sniffed around, they did come back.  I had called AJ to come on his bike to try and catch up with them, since there is no way I can keep up with them.  By the time he made it down, they had come back.  Both were back on their leads for the rest of the walk!  (And Ripley will stay on her lead......)

 

Since the addition of Ripley to the family, space in the dog beds has been at a premium, and then re-doing the computer/sewing room made it worse.  Ripley came with her own bed, so I figured we'd be fine.  Evidently, I need three dog beds in e-v-e-r-y room!  Mission accomplished - no need for anyone to not be able to be in whatever room I'm in!  Except....Indy has staked out one of the beds for himself.  Someone is going to have to share - there is not enough room for an extra dog bed, and still be able to walk!

 

Koori had a dentist appointment last Thursday - which meant a flying trip to Ft Bragg.  Alli, Koo and I loaded up and left Wednesday at 2:00 and drove over (Ronna only does dentals on Tuesdays and Thursdays - I didn't know when I would have time off before she closed the practice, so I used the Veteran's Day holiday, just in case).  I wasn't sure how either would do on the long drive, and Alli started protesting at Cottonwood - 10 minutes into the 4+ hour drive.  She settled down, though and did well the rest of trip - navigating staying at a hotel/Ronna's/change in routine like a champ.  Koori had 4 teeth pulled, and is on the mend (and is loving the soft food diet...)

I even got Alli on a (short) walk to view the ocean.  I will really miss visiting Ronna on the coast.  Her house is in escrow, and she's closing her practice at the end of January.

 

The sunrise on Friday....

 

I'm almost finished with a new baby quilt for Karly at the bank, who's expecting their first baby in January.  I really like how it turned out - I used fat quarters for the colors - a pre-packaged set - and I did buy another set so I could cut one more 20" strip.  I used the remnants of the fabric for the binding, and was that much too short!  It's all done except for the hand sewing of the binding

 

Last Spring, Ralph bought a smoker from Leona and Dave (they were having a garage sale at our house during The Big Event) and I decided to try it out yesterday.  I'm thinking of smoking a turkey for Thanksgiving....and didn't want that to be the first time I used it.

I smoked a chicken, and it turned out very moist and flavorful - not too bad for a first try!

We locked the dogs up Saturday to keep them out of the way in AJ's old room (now the guest room), and when I checked on them, "someone" had found some of AJ's old homework.  I told him that if he was still in school, I would have had to write a note to his teacher saying that the dog really DID eat his homework!!!  I have no idea where they found it - I thought we had cleaned everything up pretty well...I guess that just shows what a bored dog will do.....

 

Margene came in for the weekend - she missed the Celebration of Life, landing at 8:30 Saturday night, but it was so nice to have her here for a while.  She flew back out on Tuesday.  While she was here, we took advantage of the sunshine (and someone here to watch Alli) and went for a walk on the River Trail.  The trees are starting to change colors.

Here's the slideshow of photos for Ralph's Celebration of Life on Saturday.  It came out pretty well - rain, wind and all.  I had a house full of people laughing, talking, drinking, eating - all the makings of a good party - just what Ralph would have wanted.

 

I went out to feed the koi this week, and noticed something in the rocks, and took a better look.

I shouldn't have looked - it was a huge pile of ants.  (I hate ants.....just sayin'!)  I have no idea why they decided to all come out of their nest, but it didn't make me happy.....AJ dump diatomaceous earth on them.  When I dug them out the next day, they were gone, so hopefully they stay either gone, or back in their nest!