Jacksonville Census News

So after a bit of searching, I have discovered that Jacksonville residents can plan to receive their census documents in March! This is fantastic, because by March, I should own a mailbox. I was slightly worried about the timing of our move, and missing the census takers as they make their rounds. And to top it off, we will get to check the "own" box (vs. Rent). Fill out your census! Your future grandchildren genealogists will thank you in 72 years.

Moving Countdown

Movers Come in.....5 days.
Leave CT in 7 Days....(begin homelessness)

Oh my goodness, we have so much to do. The husband has been fantastic though, and is definately taking on his share of the projects. I know it is going to happen, and I know everything is going to be okay, but there is so much to think about, it is all very overwhelming.

Send me happy vibes for house closing on Friday!

Our New House!

On Friday, if all goes well, we will be Homeowners. This is wonderful feeling, and we are both very excited move in, in March. Here are some pictures of the new digs!

Its a new home, and it has all the wonderful features you can imagine. Granite Countertops, Tile floors, super energy efficient, screened patio, Corian counters in the bathrooms. Drew likes the counter height bathroom counters (a little bit taller than your typical bathroom candidates. Mack's favorite feature is the large fenced back yard. Some pictures below are pictures of the model home (with furniture). The last picture is the beautiful community pool. I am very excited for the summer!

More Circus Fun

While we were in Jacksonville, circus John was there with his show. We had the amazing pleasure of seeing the dress rehearsal. It was the same show everyone else sees, but we were the whole audience. Its a new show from when we saw it in Worcester, MA. Amazingly, after all the circus shows I have seen, this was the first that I have gotten to see, while sitting next to my husband. I highly recommend seeing this show if it is in your area! It is called Funundrum. It pays homage to the old school circus in a fantastically updated way.

I took a picture under the sign in the last cirucs visit, you might notice that this sign is much much shorter than before, but still very large!

It was cool watching the tight rope walkers practice. Its amazing the things they do!

This is a Watousi. I had never even heard of one, but it is a very interesting looking animal!

This is the trampoline jumpers practice. I would like to say that this was one of my favorite acts, but I cannot say this because they were all great in their own special way. This act was much better with the costumes during the rehearsal!

This is the husband and I with our VIP guest pass. We had to carry this around the stadium, since our host had to work during the rehearsal.

This tiger wasn't in a great mood....I think he was missing his nap!

I loved this part, the dog is leading the elephant around. I wonder the training required to get the dog anywhere near the elephant....hmmm....

This is near the end, see previous post about trampoline jumpers! They are awesome. If you have the option to go see the show....GO, it is great! (PS. This is from the Blue tour.)

Heritage Quilt, Finished 2009

This was finished before Christmas, but as I am finally now downloading pictures to the camera, here it is, for your viewing pleasure! The binding on this one was actually a huge PITA, because I tried to finish in the car on the way down to PA. Threading a needle while in a moving vehicle, just doesn't work.

Official Countdown!

Drive to Pennsylvania...4 Days
Drive to Florida...5 Days
Movers Come...17 Days
Homeless...21 Days
Fly to Oregon...28 Days
Move to Florida...37 Days

Holiday Party

This is from the boat holiday party. The husband is wearing the JO uniform of the day, an ugly sweater. We had a fantastic time. This was most definately the best holiday party since here in Groton. I am so sad to be leaving this fantastic group of people!

Becoming a better photographer

While I know my sewing adventures are still learning opportunities at every turn, something tells me they would look a little better if I was able to photograph them properly. While I have read some material on the subject, I would love for some personal words of wisdom that could help me with my learning curve...

Anybody? Thanks!

Too many months without the men folk....

means that I have to have a different frame of mind when I call one of my girlfriends on the phone. For so long, when I would call them, of course there is a female voice on the other end. The boat has been home a month now, but subtract the vacation weeks, I have only been making these phone calls for a few weeks. It totally throws me for a loops when a male voice answers. I have a momentary pause....who did I call, and who is this answering the phone? For my wonderful San Juan friends, I will try to remember that your husbands are home now, and have every right to answer their telephone.

To Do List for today!

Take Down Christmas Tree and Holiday Decorations
Put Christmas Bins in Garage
Pick up pictures from Walgreens (Do we think they are still there?)
Clean out car from trip
Clean clothes away
Wash, dry, and fold at least two loads
Prepare house for cleaning tomorrow

Can I do it? I suppose the only reason I put my to do list here is more incentive to finish.
I got started on my picnic schnibble, and it is looking quite lovely in fact. The kit I am using is dandelion girl from fig tree quilts. And though I never thought to use a non white-ish (or any non solid for that matter) color for a background, the kit came with what looks like a coffee stained tablecloth, and I rather like it. I am not going to work on it until I finish all my other items.

Schnibbles Excuses

I didn't finish Schnibbles this month either, however, I do plan to complete both November and December. My November priorities were more focused on the end of the deployment, and the Picnic Schnibble did not call to me as loudly as the others had. During December, I had so many projects that I wanted to finish, and we left for the last half of the month for vacation, so alas, no tuffets either.

I found the greatest little shop in Pennsylvania, and found a cute little Picnic kit. It spoke to me, and I cannot wait to get started. I am going to finish my tuffets also. So my goal for January is to finish Picnic, Tuffets, and Madeline.

I am amazed by all the others that have been completed, and it is fun to see everyone's unique insight into the pattern! I am excited to try the Madeline pattern. I don't think I will do it in Red. I have some Authentic charm packs that would look great in this pattern.

Update: I joined the Charming Girls Quilt Club, so this will be my encouragement for finishing the extra schnibbles!

Scruffily Quilt Finished

 This one came together very quickly, and I love the frayed edges. I used some of the leftover jelly roll strips for the binding. I have alot of jelly roll strips left, so I think I might try a little bag...hmm. I promised Drew only little projects this month, so hopefull I can start and finish everything to minimize the confusion after we move.

I wasn't really counting, and I ended up with six extra layer cake squares. (I guess this means the Simple Abundance Layer cake has 42 squares.)

The green layer cake square in the middle has my fantastic little sweetwater label. I managed to use all my 2009 labels. I plan to get more 2010 labels, but probably after the move.

2009 Quilt Finishes

I am very happy to say that I have finished all the quilts that I planned to finish in 2009. I cannot upload pictures until I am back home, but I finished my Patisserie Stars Quilt (made for a gift, and not blogged yet), I finished the Heritage Jelly Roll Quilt, and my Simple Abundance - Scruffily quilt.

Pictures to come soon!

Cinnabon Update

We went to King of Prussia Mall with two goals...one being the hunt for a gift, the second being the Cinnabon mission. We got to the mall, and went to the directory. There was no Cinnabon listed. I was terribly disappointed. I couldn't understand how the online (Cinnabon website) listing could be wrong. But it simply wasn't there. We tried calling the number and there was no answer.

After asking the very nice gentleman in the Sony Style store if the cinnabons had ever been here, he told me they were still here. I was perplexed. He gave us directions to the other side of the mall, and told me that I would be able to smell it. Sure enough, we walked, and we could smell. It was delicious. The wonderful husband that I have told me that we could still stop at Vince Lombardi and pick up the box to go when we drive by again!

The Quest for Cinnabon....

I have been craving a cinnabon for a while now. This was originally satisfied very briefly with  Grands Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls w/ Cinnabon Icing, but only with the knowledge that a drive by the Vince Lombardi service station on I-95 would have Cinnabons waiting for me. This plan went to the dogs when we opted for the Tappan Zee Bridge instead of the George Washington Bridge from New York to New Jersey. When we finally made it back to I95 we were well passed the Vince Lombardi. I am sure there were other stops on the NJ Turnpike that was host to a Cinnabon, but it was not the one we stopped at for gas on Monday night, and there certainly were not going to be any other stops before we arrived at our destination.

Tuesday was the day we planned to finish our Christmas shopping. We chose the mall that I remembered hosting a Cinnabon. Though it was no longer present at the Willow Grove Mall in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania.

Cinnamon rolls are deeply ingrained in my holiday traditions. When I was younger, the family would always sit down for a good holiday movie on Christmas Eve, with an assortment of holiday treats. This assortment always included cinnamon rolls with yummy icing. In recent years we have always picked up a Cinnabon on the way down to his parents house.

On Saturday we trekked down to Baltimore to see David, Becca, and Lucy. We did see a service station that contained the very elusive, warm, and sticky Cinnabon, but we had no plans to stop. We were also on our way to a very yummy Carraba's dinner, so we drove passed. With the traffic (averaging about 30mph) had to drive by many signs very, very slowly.

Today we will venture out again. These our the three closest options.

Plaza @ King of Prussia
160 N. Gulph Road
King of Prussia, PA 19406
610-337-9880

Gallery Satellite
9th & Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 928-0838

Gallery @ Market East 1101 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 592-8551

From Santa...

I WON!!! Santa is bringing me a layer cake and the fresh vintage pattern!

Thank you Fat Quarter Shop!!!




From Santa...

Framed, Quilted and Bound

The husband calls this one the "scissors one" because of the backing fabric. I am happy to finally have it finished!