~ Fall Forward ~

So ... I hope I'm not premature in saying so but ... believe it or not ... we may actually be saying good-bye to the blasted heat that was the Summer of 2010, here in the Land of AZ. Last week: still in the triple digits. This week: rockin' the 80's. You won't hear too many people bemoaning the absence of the 90's in this equation. Let's face it, the 90's are so overrated.

This evening we are even enjoying a bit of light rain. Not summer "the wind blew my neighbor's pool into my pool**" monsoon rains, but a lovely light mist.

Along with the aforementioned advantages to Fall, look what I picked up today at Marshall's on sale because of it's obvious summer overtones? Sweet. (You know how much I love dots! And you know how much I love blue!)

Welcome Fall. Please don't toy with my emotions and revert to your old sweltering ways. Please don't make me beg.

'Cause I will.

** There was an evening this summer when I came home to find a rather large inflated child's pool ... floating in my pool. No lie. Some of my patio furniture was also at the bottom of the pool. It was a pretty big day for my pool.

Has Spring Sprung??

So ... you need to know a couple of things:

#1) It is pretty hard to get anything done around here what with the beauty and entertaining skillz of these three girlies.

#2) Contrary to popular belief, summer has not arrived in AZ-town. The water that these guys are frolicking in is pretty much free-eezing. You must understand that they are from CHI-town and have not felt the sun on their extremities for quite some time. I am personally hoping that they get over this need to "dip" before someone does a swan dive.

But come to think of it, life has been sunnier since they arrived.

In other weather-related news ...

So ... it rained here a little last week. Uhhhh .... let me rephrase that. It rained buckets here last week. Yard-flooding, Ark-making buckets of rain, accompanied by torrential winds. Rain has always been a bit of a sore spot in this particular home. Drainage issues consumed us for many ... many ... years. About two years ago we attacked those issues with a vengence, but until last week that work had not really been tested.

Well ... it passed the test. Worked like a charm. I might even go so far as to say that my yard likes me, it really, really likes me.

And visa-versa. As you can see in the photo above, the sun is now shining and I am too. I am not quite sure how to segue into this next picture, but let's just say that it's also seasonly related.

Here are the November and December blocks that complete my Block of the Month from Bunny Hill. I actually sewed these one day in December when I was feeling a bit blue and needed a colorful distraction that wasn't on a to-do list. I didn't do the hand work until last week. I have too many projects on the to-do list currently to put these babies together ... but it is a goal for 2010, really it is.

I hope I haven't messed with your head by publishing these holiday has-beens. I also hope the sun is shining where you are. But do tell ...

Did you have storms? Did you weather them? Does your yard like you as much as mine likes me??

Thanks to Renee ... my new boss ... for the shoutout over the weekend. Work was never so much fun!

It's beginning to look a lot like ...

So ... I've done a bit of decorating this weekend. I will shop tomorrow to replenish my supply of Advil. In the meantime I will bask in the twinkly lights and try very hard not to move.

"S" stands for Santas in the Sunshine.

Yes, Virginia, it does snow in Arizona ... right on the kitchen table.

See ... a little bit landed in the living room and stuck to these trees.

Santa is not amused.

Turn on some Bing ... I promise it will cure the most aching of aching backs.

Wish I was here.

So ... I'm not here. At the the beach, that is. I am actually here in the blasted-hot sun where it is indeed 115 degrees today.

Today I forgot to put up my windshield sun shade up while I was in church. Today I burned the back of my legs on the seat and had to use a wadded up program to shift gears.

Today I really wish I could smell some sea air instead of the sweet scent of the hair being singed on my arms. Today is the day I was talking about in February when I gave you guys the admonition to remind me how wonderful it really is to live in Arizona.

Forgetaboutit. Today I can not be convinced that there is an upside.

Today I just want to whine.

I'd like to thank my ... fan ...

So ... I know all you California People are complaining about the heat, what with it being in the 90s and all. And I feel for you ... really I do. But I gotta admit ... I'm feeling a tad sorrier for those of us who live in Arizona ... what with it being 102 degrees and all.

In April. Sigh.

So on Tuesday (the peak heat day) I was happily sewing away in my sewing room which sits upstairs ... where heat is wont to rise. I knew I was feeling somewhat ... sweaty ... but hey, I was hard at work. What I didn't know was that the temperature up there was quickly climbing to 86 degrees. Of course once I knew that it was suddenly way too unbearable and I was forced to turn on the A/C (on the earliest date in many ... many ... years.)

But in the meantime I want to give a shout out to my trusty Wal-Mart clip-on fan that has served me through many a sweaty AZ summer.

And yes, I am well aware that in July ... if it ever gets down to 102 degrees, I will be forced to put on a light sweater.

In the meantime ... how are you dealing with the heat? Are you thinking about heading to Wal-Mart right now?

Are you sweating?

Take me out to the Tundra ...

So ... today actually marked the first day of summer ... in a way. Today the PDaddy and I went to our first baseball game of the season. It was actually a pre-season game and it was actually to see the Dodgers play and not the Diamondbacks and they actually ... lost ... but that doesn't take away from the fact that the sun was ablazin' in the sky and we were in that piece of Heaven where it's always 80 degrees and where there is always ... always ... a seventh-inning stretch.

The irony of this is that tomorrow at this time I will step off the plane in Salt Lake City where it will hopefully be in the forties (not lower) and my patootie will be hanging on by a thread in a major attempt to avoid being frozen off. How the heck am I supposed to flip-flop like that in less than 24 hours?

Sigh.

And I'm guessing that wearing flip flops is out of the question. Sheesh. Any advice from any Utahns on what I should pack?? Please tell me there has been a last minute change to the forecast.

Please.

Now WHY do we live in Arizona?

So ... I have an assignment for you.

In July, when it's 115 degrees outside and my hands are blistered from the steering wheel and frying eggs on the sidewalk is out of the question only because I don't want to go anywhere near the sidewalk ...

Would you please remind me that on this splendid day in February it was 83 glorious degrees and felt just a bit like Heaven?

Thanks. I'm gonna need that.

Knock Knock

So ... we're going home. Yep ... to Arizona. To real carpet and soft towels and decent internet connections and loving friends.

And we're doing it a week earlier than expected.

And we're glad.

However, we can't say that we won't miss many, many things about our stay here at The Baroness. Like crystal doorknobs and a swanky, art deco living room/lobby (sat in only slightly less often than our real living room/lobby) and cool breezes and an obligation-less life.

Oh yes ... and lifesaving doctors right across the street. Yep, we'll miss the ol' neighborhood.

Good bye dear Baroness. Don't worry, we will no doubt be back for an x-ray or two. But you have been a swell home-away-from-home.

And we will never forget you.

More Stuff

So ... I was perusing my newest issue of Quilt Sampler Magazine when I noticed (I believe on page 27) in the bottom right hand corner that this particular quilt shop was showcasing the Foldover Bag ... a fablulous pattern by my friend Renee. I made a sample of this pattern and taught it at Grandma's Club last year.

I made mine with some fun kid-friendly fabric and even put a pocket inside that was shaped to hold a baby bottle. But, let's be honest ... I have only ever used it to hold ...

... STUFF. As you know, I have a lot of stuff. And I don't mind advertising it. I was quite thrilled to find these letter buttons here and felt they were perfect to make my statement. The pattern is mucho easy and as a small hint I will say that instead of using a stiff interfacing, I used fusible fleece which worked like a dream.

In other ... less crafty ... news: It was 110 here yesterday. Yes ... degrees. Yes ... in May.

Yes ... I have lived to tell the tale.

As the Blood Thins ...

So ... Spring has most definitely Sprung here in the shiny Land of Az. Word has it that the temps will hit the 90s this weekend. There was a day (in the not-too-distant past) that I would groan at such fanatic forecasts. Mind you ... I am not anxious in any way to see 115, but for now ... I welcome the warmth. In fact, I pretty much bask in it.

Along with thinning blood, I am also subject to bouts of thinning brain. On our recent Seattle trip, I made the foolish assumption that it would also be Spring in the Land O'Puget Sound. As a result I brought along a couple of sweaters and one denim jacket as my means of covering. Oh, it was gorgeous and sunny while we were there ... in fact every native we spoke to mentioned the fabulous Spring weather. However, it's important to point out that they made these lauditory statements while wearing winter coats and scarves. Scarves, people. I was pulling my little jacket around me so tightly I was certain I would blow a seam or two.

We have now lived in the Valley of the Sun for 27.5 years. My children would be quick to point out that I have voiced my share of complaints. Many, many complaints about the heat. (Keep in mind that complaining about the heat is like the State Motto ... it's expected and maybe even encouraged.) Today I will not complain. I will only bask.

So ... what I want to know is this: If you come from a land where Cold is the State Motto ... do you ever bask in it?

A girl can dream ...

So ... I want it clear from the start that I am grateful for all my many blessings. I am particularly thankful to live here in the Southwest where the sun shines with abandon.

But ... truth be told ... I have always had this dream about living in the country with lush, green, rolling hills ... and trees. Lots of trees. A view of some languid water in the distance wouldn't be bad either.

At certain times in my life I mistakenly thought that the picture above existed for some people and that I was somehow missing out. Apparently browsing through 3.8 Country magazines a day can cloud the brain into thinking that the simple life is indeed that. No one mentions that those homes need cleaning too or that fences need mending or that cows ... well you get the picture.

So, I have come to terms with the olive tree in my front yard and I appreciate the way it arches over the sidewalk. If I squint when I look at the clear blue water in my backyard I miss the fact that there's a pool cleaner meandering around. And, as for the cows ...

I'll pass.

Do magazines ever cloud your brain? I'm pretty sure it's a real disease.

at least my blood is thin!

So ... did I mention that I am from Arizona?

And that it was nearing the 80's there yesterday ... and sunny?

And that the picture above was taken last Wednesday here in Chi-town where the snow came in sideways and didn't stop until there was a full foot of it?

And that yesterday the high temperature was one lonely single digit and that that digit was ONE?

And that I prefer to count by tens?

Yeah ... maybe I did already mention that.

Sunny Delight

So ... in case you were wondering ... "light deprivation syndrome" is a real disease indeed. Like homework allergies and chocolate dependence.

Only real-er.

I grew up in Utah and lived 4 years in Maryland and I survived weeks on end with nothing but gray to look at. I have now lived in Arizona for over 27 years. Somewhere after the first ten, I developed an absolute dependency on clear sunny skies. This has nothing to do with the temperature mind you ... even at 110, I prefer my skies blue.

I am not unaware that we are in the middle of a drought. I have prayed for rain with the rest of our fair state. I have recognized the blessings we have received over the last month when gray skies and flooded streets have abounded. As usual, when the rains first arrive, I feel all warm and fuzzy in my sweaters with a fire in the fireplace. There is nothing like rain to bring out the need to read and sew. And for a day or so, I revel in it until ...

... until I think I will be unbearably sad or stark-raving crazy ... whichever comes first.

I am not entirely aware of this at the time. I just feel blue and I try to shake it off. I don't truly appreciate the depth of my dependence until I wake up one morning (a morning like this morning) and I see the sun in all its glory. And I want to cry out of relief and happiness or run outside and dance in it.

Whichever comes first.

So ... I cannot tell a lie. I know we need the rain, but I am thankful ... no, truly and deeply grateful ... for the sun.

And chocolate.

Flora and Fauna

So ... these pictures are not of Arizona.

Not even close.

These pictures are from our mid-west adventure.

These pictures are of the Dub's backyard.

(So ... it's at an apartment complex, sue me, they still walk out their door and see this.)

I love Arizona ... really I do, but somedays you just want to look at this.

Somedays you just want a little foliage in your life.

But, you know me ... perky as always. If the flora can't come to the front yard, then the fauna will come to the fabric.

Remember these guys? Well, the evolution continues. I grew my own garden with some hand embroidery, finished her up and now she only wants quilting and binding.

I'm tickled pink.

How about you?