Late Again . . .

I really do have the best of intentions, but I just don't seem to be doing a good job of posting in a timely manner. Where to start ???????? I think we were headed off to Napa the last time I posted. We had a great weekend and The Bubbling Well Pet Memorial Park and Cemetery was absolutely beautiful. We checked out the memorial and got a look at Kodi's registry. We had a nice relaxing weekend and were treated to wonderful dinner and breakfast too. I think I drank some bad orange juice cause it certainly did not sit well on my stomach. While in the area, we checked out a couple of Indian Casinos - they are everywhere. We were both amazed that Napa really is only about an hour or so from home. Will have to make that trip again.

Max is doing the 12-hour thing so nothing much is happening during the week. She traded Friday for Saturday and we went to San Jose to check out some camera shops doing research on tripods and heads. The research ended in purchase - she got a Gitzo head and Manafrotto legs. I was completely amazed at how lightweight they both were - very sturdy, but I guess alloy. She is a happy camper as the tripod goes sideways and will be good for shooting with her macro lens for those close close shots.

She also got a really good deal on a used Nikon Repro-Copy Outfit PF-4. Will be the only Nikon thing in the house, but Duane will appreciate that.

Jesse had his graduation ceremony on Saturday (he is now a certified Medical Assistant). Kathy, Paul, Michael, Max, Ann, Warren and I went to the graduation and then we all went to Marie Callender's for lunch/dinner (corn bread YUM). Forgot my camera, but Max got a bunch of pictures.

This weekend Jesse, the kids and Ann are coming down for Michael's Special Olympics (basketball). We will have them here for dinner tonight and then we will all be at Kathy's for dinner on Saturday. Max is really looking forward to using her new tripod for pictures of Mike and his game playing.

My sewing machine is now at the Pfaff dealer in Walnut Creek. Hopefully I will get it back soon and all this silly machine crap will be DONE!

Debby is coming home for her 2 weeks soon (the first of May) and we are all very excited about seeing her.

I think that is it for now.

Later . . .

This picture Max made for Duane . . . :)

Away for the Weekend

We are off to Napa tomorrow for a much needed 3 day weekend. Max starts working 12 hours coming Monday so it will be nice to have this weekend. In the hills of Napa is where Kodi's ashes were spread and his name is in the register at the pet cemetery there and I have been wanting to go see where he is. We are staying at the Vino Bello Resort for a free weekend through our Shell Timeshare (we also get $100 for dinner). Hopefully we will have some decent weather and be able to spend time outdoors and Max will be able to get some good photos.

I finished my cheater quilt and it was a good experience for me. Quilting is just much harder than it looks like it would be. I guess the ticket is just to contiue to practice and it will come. I worked on leaves, flowers, feathers and some basic loops. The quilt looks good as long as you don't look to closely (smile).

Later . . .

Weekend

We had a good weekend even though Max had to work on Saturday morning.  After she came home from work we packed up and headed out for a picnic and a photo shoot with her new Mark II.  It was a beautiful day and we did some hiking and just enjoyed the great outdoors and the clear air.  After lunch Max and Paul took off for the Fly Fishing Show at the Fair Grounds.  They both came home very excited about new boats that are out.  Paul picked up a two seater that can be converted to a one seater and Max got a new one seater.  Max got the Outlaw and Paul got the Outlaw Avenger.  They both got really good prices due to the show special.  They are being shipped free with no sales tax - nice.  We have float tubes that we have really enjoyed, but now Max will have one that sits higher and out of the water and Paul is giving me his old one that also sits higher and out of the water.  Our previous tubes were powered with flippers and now we will both have oars, which is a lot better cause there were times when the wind picked up and we really had to struggle to get back to shore.

Kathy, Paul, Michael, Carl and Nancy came over for dinner on Saturday night.  Kathy brought the dinner - pork tamales, rice, beans and salad followed by coffee and cheese cake.  It was a very enjoyable evening.  Sunday was our usual kick back day of catching up on TV shows and we also watched "DeJaVue" which was a pretty good movie.

I am in the process of trying to do some quilting on my machine and I am having some difficulties.  Max adjusted the legs to make it higher and I think that will help with my back aches and I can see my work area much better.  I am having some thread breakage problems and I think it might have been because I did not have the needle exactly straight - it is a difficult task cause the needle for this machine does not have the flat side like all the other machines to get the needle lined up.  I have been practicing on a "cheater" quilt because I have not done any quilting since mid November.  The flow is coming back and I am getting the hang of it again.  It is great fun, but a task nonetheless.

Later . . .