AHHHHwesome......

Our vacation was motivated by the fact that both of our children and their families

were on vacation.

You know what that meant....no babysitting, so we hit the road!!!!

First stop was the Getty Museum. I was more than impressed.

The exhibition on the "Life and Luxury" of Paris was so inspiring.

Of course no interior photos were permittted, but my mind is full of the images of their furniture, costumes and art.

Amazing!!!!

Our trip was all about relaxation....

which the Apple Farm always provides in abundance.

It was also about inspiration.

We drove Hwy 1 in both directions.

Big Sur is one of the most scenic drives you can imagine.

There was much to see on our road trip....

the Mission at Santa Barbara.

....and a smaller Mission style church in Montecito.

We visited the San Ysidro ranch....and they were setting up for a wedding.

Such a romantic spot.

Did you know that this is where

Jacqueline and John Kennedy spent their honeymoon????

We spent time in Carmel....

such a beautiful and quaint area of shops and cafes.

Also one of the most gorgeous beaches and coast.

I found my dream home...but more pictures in a later post.

....and when we weren't stopped at some fun destination,

I had my IPAD tuned into some great quilting sites!!!!

I got lots of knitting done too!!!!

More to share....hope you enjoy our mini trip too.

We sure had LOTS of fun!!!!

Road Trip.....

We took a GREAT road trip.....

....where Jim did LOTS of this, and

I shopped at LOTS of these!!!!

So much to show you, but for now I am unpacking and tidying up the house.

Stay Tuned!!!!

Shabby and Chic....

It is always so much fun to go to a flea market, and even more so when.....

....it is rated as one of the top ten in the WHOLE country!!!!

Here is a peek at the Urban Barn and it was LOTS of fun.

Vintage linens always are a great find.

There was kitchy.....

...and sweet.

This vintage pink child's kitchen gave me a heart rush!!!

Then I spied this adorable bitty trailer and inside was a BIG GIRL'S pink kitchen.

DIVINE!!!!

Always a fun day when you are surrounded with Vintage goodness.

I can't wait to go back again.

Design on a Dime.....

I am always a BIG fan of trying to do some DYI....but there is always that budget thing!!!

I was dreaming of a space to just sit and knit, catch up on magazines

or just gaze out the window.

Super helpful that the lid would open up for LOTS of extra storage.

I got Jim onboard for taking a niche area in our master bedroom

and creating a window seat.

His only stipulation....not to fill it with quilts like I did

with the other window seat in our TV room!!!!

So I have filled it with toys for the Grandbabies instead!!!!

I have tried to fill whatever left over time I have had by sewing cushions,

and yesterday I also covered the nightstand lampshades

to match the box pleated dust ruffle that I hope to finish this week.

Of course it makes things much easier when you have great help

...and as you can see I rely on ONLY the best.

So here is to a "real" design on a dime.....and SEW far I am LOVING IT!!!!

I am missing.....

....my beach buddy this week.

...and his very loving Momma.

The family is visiting his other sweet Grammie

and hopefully having a relaxing and very fun time!!!

I am working on a quilt for my beach buddy to cuddle him when he comes home again.

You can never have TOOOO much cuddling when you are at the beach.

See you soonest my sweet family. XXX

I am smiling because.....

....because I finished another quilt top.

This one used up a layer cake I won in a blog contest. I will quilt this one myself. There are SEW many lovely areas to make the quilting POP!!!!

....because I discovered this incredible yarn called "Temis".

You simply knit and purl and the intricate design comes from the yarn itself.

What fun!!!!

...because we got to spend a fun day with our delightful Clare!!!

She LOVES Grampie's IPAD and his screen saver which is a photo of an Owl.

Clare is quite the talker now...telling me what she wants. Such a sweet voice too.

Nothing cuter than hearing her say "Whoo Whoo" when Grampie says

"what does the Owl say"???

....because our little man is just so darn cute. He loves his walker as you can tell from the BIG SMILE!!!!

.....because Meghan's surgeon gave us the best news today!!!!

Meghan has healed remarkably well and she can not forsee any more complications.

Now that is something to SMILE about!!!!

Keeping Busy.....

I have been finishing some quilts....

...working on perfecting my machine quilting skills.

I love this quilt.....the pattern is called Flea Market, and it was fun and SEW easy.

My friend Judy quilted this one....she is WONDERFUL!!!!!

I love summer for an easy "chick" book to read....

......always inspired to make more and more summer dresses for our little miss.

...and hanging out with some of my favorite people.

This summer is working out to be GREAT!!!!

More of the same....

So...this has been my view for the past few days. Not bad huh????

It only gets better when I peek over at our

little beach baby in his UV protected baby tent!!!!

I am still thinking about summer quilting, and obsessing over this quilt....

and this one ( photo snagged from my friend Miss Polka Dot)

...and certainly this one.

I guess I have summer on the brain, and I am loving every minute of it!!!!

How hot was it.....

Yes it was a warm 4th of July....but we were thinking COOL!!!!

Since Jim had tickets to an Angel's game, we girls gathered with LOTS of Ice Tea.

Oma worked on some knitting.

Linda and I shared some yummy snacks

and a cute pattern that had us thinking Winter.....

Before the barbeque and fireworks, Oma gifted us with the cutest scarves....

....and we both finished our Snowman Table Toppers.

It was Sew much fun!!!!