All the trees are turning Fall Colors. . .SOOOOO

AH HA!  THE LEAVES are not the only thing turning copper this Fall. I was feeling drab and bedraggled after my sojourn in the hinterlands of New Mexico; “No Country for Old Men/Women” indeed!  Have had 4 dialysis treatments and with all my trepidation, turned out not to be so bad.  Getting the temporary catheter was a night mare but after that; not too bad.  Takes 12 hours out of my week but it goes by fairly fast as I can use my laptop and if my fistula never works; I’ll have both hands free and can tat.

I don’t have any tatting to show, Need to unpack the books.  I DO know where shuttles and thread are, though.  :>)  We are sorting as we unpack and trying to put away things before we unpack more.  A lot of non essential will have to go, there is a lack of storage.  No walk in pantry, no walk in closets and no utility room cuts down on storage I took for granted.  LOL  Also, one less bedroom means one less closet.
But I do like my little home.  We’re going to the Scandinavian Design store to buy functional pieces for storage; a two drawer, two-drawer curio with a matching, but separate, console.  Later next year, we’ll get the matching table.  We bought only ‘must have’ furniture after the FLOOD of 97 so we are overdue for a few pieces to replace what we lost.  The only thing I have too many of are chairs..I think I have a chair ‘fetish’.  LOL  I’m giving two to the grandson’s apartment along with the chair and a half that we gave them.

Today I’m celebrating having a great hair stylist; At 76, my hair is the only thing I have going for me, so I’m celebrating the artist who does it!  Holly.  She is as much of a perfectionist as I and that is a good thing.  I love Sacramento, the trees are turning red, gold, copper along the wide boulevards here in Greenhaven area. The days have been sunny with intermittent leaf shadows.  We are supposed to have a sprinkle of rain by Sunday.  The Da Vita clinic (West Elk Grove) is populated by really nice nurses and technicians.  The manager is from the UK.

Wanted my readers to know that I’m doing a lot better, will be tatting again soon and will be in full swing with the blogging.  Thanks for hanging in there with me; when I find the scanner I’ll show you all the lovelies sent to me by Jane, Fox and Martha Ess.

IT’S FALL YA’LL -- PHOTO TIME

LAST VIEW of New Mexico’s Fall Balloon celebration.  We saw this one on our way to CA.

IT’S A SMALL WORLD. . .Professor Claude Smith (WNMU, Silver City, NM) is an ex pat from AVOCA, Iowa.  Not a big deal BUT my Mother was born and went to school in Avoca; and Claude grew up there as his father was the pastor of the Congregational Church in Avoca.  Not at the same time, of course, but it was fun meeting someone who even knew where Avoca is located!  Zella, my Mom’s namesake, and Claude party at the University.

OCTOBER 12, 1956-FEBRUARY 14, 2007    LORI ELAYNE DAVIS-FIELDS   RIP “Lollie”
Today I remember all the good, fun times we had with our first-born daughter.  She was such a happy, friendly little one.  Too young to die, she passed away during the flu epidemic that spring.  One of those souls who were really never understood and never found her place in life.  But she knew “Who held her hand, and trusted her Lord for her eternity”  We will meet again!

Havent found the toaster as yet, BUT have found the pots n pans.  Still surrounded by boxes; no inside photos as yet.  This is my green, grassy yard.  I know grass isn’t a big thing to the reader, however, for one whose lived in the high desert for the last five years...grass is a big deal.  This is looking west with the plum tree.  Husband has big plans for landscaping, so except for the tree, this will change.

This shot is looking south and west and is the big persimmon tree.  And I DO know how to make persimmon cookies!  LOL  The Porch will be enlarged and screened for le chat and moi!  Also, husband wants to put up new fencing and the fence on the far left will be pushed back four or five feet so he can access the other side of our house (which is part of  the tenant’ side yard).  Seems very odd to have neighbors!  These folks are great, they’ve taken out all their back yard and it is all a huge garden!  How smart is that in this economy?  They brought over tomatoes the other day...home grown!  But, alas, tomatoes are not on ridgewoman’s kidney diet..no tomato products.  Have to avoid Potassium, Sodium and one I always forget!  

I’ve contacted Capitol Nephrology Group and my Tucson physicians are sending all my records, so should not be too long until I have a nephrologist.  By the time we arrived I had some blood in my urine, but that stopped 2 weeks after we arrived.  However, the Doctors are marking all the records URGENT so should not be too long until I’m plugged into the system (literally).

TODAY I’m going to begin TATTING for Christmas, if I can find the pattern book. MY OTHER goal for the day is putting up the pottery and keepsakes from the Southwest.  TONIGHT GRANDSON CHRIS is coming for dinner.  He is busy looking for an apartment to share with his brother.  I have “stuff” for him. A Microwave, Computer desk (it is a nice solid wood desk, but no room), cuddle chair and a half/makes into a bed, and various pots, dishes and useful sundries.  I can hardly wait for him to get the apartment so I can get a new sofa/daybed for the living room, a curio cabinet from Scandinavian Design Group, and a chez so I can sit with my feet propped up (reduces swelling).   Downsizing from 3,000 sq feet to 1,300 sq feet is no mean feat!  (groan)

NEXT TIME.....tatting and new photos of Zella who has grown taller and discovered her toes!

Honey, I’m home!

“On the Road”

First layover at Wickenburg, AZ.    We pulled up to our new address in Sacramento Saturday about 5:30 PM and found our grandsons awaiting our arrival.  The next day was Sunday and they unloaded everything off the truck; and, are progressing a pace.  The bedrooms are set up as are the living room, dining area, family room works in progress.  Today Loyal hung clothes in the closets and put up the linens.  There were many surprises inside the house as Richard had accomplished even more than he reported from his “punch” list.  It really is like having a brand new house!  Everything is new and just sparkles.  

We are still at our daughter’s home as the new refrigerator hasn’t been delivered and there isn’t any wireless nor TV as yet.  Also, we are spraying for ants (which we saw outside) this week.  I think we’ll probably actually ‘move in’ next week some time.  Meanwhile I’m enjoying myself in Christopher’s room!  

I will have photos to show you in the next post.  I found packets from both Jane EB and Fox in my mail box, with lovely tatted tokens.  Loyal is very possessive of HIS.  I think it is so nice that he REALLY appreciates tatted pieces sent just to him...I was a bit concerned about him as he had some angina pain when we arrived late at night in Mojave.  But he does work himself up into quite a state from time to time.

Little Zella is growing so big so quickly!  I have new photo’s of her to upload also.  I admit I have not done any tatting on the trip.  Just not enough room in the cab of that GMC truck for 2 people with a cat crate in between.  Pippa loves the new window ledges that she can look out and the full length slider into the back yard.  One happy kitty!  

Oh, BTW, I WILL have a NEW e-mail address as soon as wireless is installed.  I’m going to try to get the same url but you know how that goes.  We changed vendors as Loyal had had it with Comcast.  I sent a notice out for the temporary addy to those in my address book.  

I love the area.  Wide boulevards and a lot of old growth trees.  We had both an old growth plum (the fruit is delicious) and persimmons.  I smell cookies in my future.  :>)  

                   

California or Bust!

Zella’s Tatted-edged socks

I have been tatting.  I did a lot of the edgings for socks.  Hit a dry spell after that, after we have moved I will be at my tatting again.

Son in love spent the August with his crew fixing up the duplex we bought; closed August 4th.  Decided he didn’t like the bulkhead at the entry way and tore that out.  Refinished the walls of the living room.  Put all new faucets et al in 3 bathrooms and kitchen. Painted everything including ceilings, Took out a fan in the living room at my suggestion and added one in the master that is remote controlled!  He and his decorator went to town.  Put in handicap-able grab bars in 2 bathrooms and a higher commode in my bathroom.  No more sore knees struggling to get up! Also, new window covers.  All new electric in the garage and covered the beams with a ‘floor’ so Loyal would have an attic in which to store stuff.  Cleaned all the cabinets inside and out in garage and kitchen, linen et cet.  Our realtor Jeanine, we’ve become chums, wrote and told me it looks fabulous and like a new house! I am blessed.  We did give him a generous budget but he went way beyond that and he paid all the sub contractors.  He also did a ‘wish list’ for our tenant, so that place is all fixed up too.  New gate and such.  Supposedly we move on Labor Day weekend..we’ll see.  He is our ‘official’ duplex contractor: RB Construction, Sacramento.  His company does renovations, decks, kitchens; just anything really. And he is a perfectionist.  I know it is hard to find honest contractors; so RB Construction and Richard are a gem in Sacramento and outlying areas.   

An elderly couple are tenants and we’ll take the other unit.  My son in love did his “punch list” and a lot of painting and touching up as a welcome gift.  He and BB found the property for us and we bought it sight unseen (well, some photos) as we trusted their choices.  They looked at a great number of duplex for us...at least a twenty! They’d already put in wood floors and added a family room; so it is a bit over 1,300 square feet.  Downsizing from 3,000 square feet!  But we are giving away a lot of things and just keeping the best and the sentimental.  LOL  I was glad to see there was a lot of wall space for my art collection.  It is 2 bedroom (a master with en suite) and guest room; and, two other full baths. And oversized garages.  A nice little grassy yard in the back where I can have a screened in porch for Pippa and I.  We could not believe it but the sellers accepted our first offer!!!!  It is in a residential area and a gaited community.  


I shall no longer be living on a ridge; but, near the Sacramento River. 
Question:  Do I change my name from Ridgewoman to River something?  I’m a ridgewoman at heart; always liked to be located up high and overlooking... I could be River Cat but that’s a franchise name for a baseball team in Sacramento.  LOL  River Kitten?  Anyone who can come up with a catchy new name, I’ll reward with a good tatting book.  But the name will have to rock my world.  LOL


Right now I’m supervising the packing.  Made one last trip to Carlsbad, where the children found a cute little house.  Loyal gave them the $$ to get in, and Omar’s teaching now.  His soccer team (he is the High School coach) won their first game and so he is a hero and in the paper now.  LOL  I warned him that fans are fickle in small towns.


Here are a few photos from the trip.  

Rebekah and Omar’s cute little house in Carlsbad.


We stopped at Carlsbad Caverns and I visited the gift shop and book store; didn’t get to do a tour of the caves but bought a virtual reality for my ‘puter, so I can visit any time. It was Bat central and all I could think of was what to get BatTatter that was easy to mail.  I couldn’t mail what I wanted to get...but found a couple of things I can mail flat.  LOL  And I found a special touristy gift for my mate, Jane Eb.  And a lot of little gifts suitable for a little older Zella!  

Painting of the Bats coming home to the caves.

New Mexico had a lot of fires and the one at Carlsbad burned right up to the parking lot of the Caverns!  They were fortunate that it didn’t take out the large center.  The peak in the far distance is the beginning of the Guadalupe Reef which spreads from NM into Texas. The Peak is over 8,000 feet and rises straight up from the desert floor. This whole area was a sea way back when; and under the ridge are many, many caves; chief of which so far is Carlsbad Cavern. If you are ever in the area, it is worth the 7 miles off the main highway just to see this view.  The caves are an icing on the cake and are wheelchair friendly.  There is a good restaurant at the bottom.  Bring a sweater, it may be 103 on top but it is cool in the caves.  Because of this reef, the whole area of NM and Texas is rich in oil deposits.  They discovered a new cave, very near the Cavern and they say it stretches at least 90 miles.  It is in exploration and study mode right now. 


It had been known as the ‘misery pit” and as a source for bat guano  in 1814!  So. California’s large orange orchards of the past were fertilized with the guano from Cavern area.  But in 1986 or so, they went deeper and found a huge cave system.  Of course the ‘cavers’ are very careful not to disturb the interior of the caves and what you pack in you pack out (Similar to astronauts).  If you’d like to learn more read the mystery, “Blind Descent” by Nevada Barr which is set in the new cave system.  It may be a while till I blog again; my next offering will be from our new home in Greenhaven (Sacramento). 


So Long from Zella and I!

Zella is now a bit over 3 months.  Her eyes are going green and in the sun her hair is dark but has an auburn hue.  She is very pale and like her Mommie will have to wear hats and sun screen.  I love the little mittens they have now, so baby doesn’t scratch her face.  
See you down the road and from California.  

Three Quarters of a Century Ago. . .

A 3 1/2 pound baby girl with blue eyes was born on June 12.  This May 17, a third generation little girl was born!  And she has Gt Grandma’s pug nose and blue eyes (I hope they stay blue)  She also shares a birthday with FOX, so “Miss Z” should be creative and cute!

I’m tatting edgings for baby socks and “itsy bitsy” edging for the blue hankie I won from the Tatting Goddess.  I’m using the dusky blue size 60 thread Gina included with the hankie.  I was so tickled as I’ve never had size 60 thread!  And it goes with that ice blue hankie beautifully.

I had a very quiet, calm 75th birthday and was able to make Sunday services.  My friend Carolyn L made mini muffins to have during social hour, for my special day.  Husband gave me summer jammies, a box of See’s Chocolate and ordered a strawberry filled Chocolate cake with fresh strawberries served on the side.

Jane, who always remembers had sent me an envelope I was ordered NOT to open; and, believe it or not I didn’t open it until Sunday morning!  Inside were these lovely blue ear wigs and the Small Cat she designed in honor of her namesake, Pippa.  And a very clever card featuring a feline!   I also received a lovely e-card from Fox and Carolyn and Sally. 3 snail mail cards arrived: from cousin Trudy; and, daughter, Kris;  Bekah, Omar and Baby Zella ~ with lovely sentiments written inside.

Both items shown were tatted by Jane Eborall and are her original designs.

Meanwhile, I did finish the June bookmark for the Tatting Forum in honor of  the College baseball season!

The design is by Nancy Tracey (Tat’s Where I Stopped) and I used TatsKool’s Choc Sauce, DMC white, and Flora, red threads.  And that is how I’m spending June.  Received a fair report from my Doctor; BP still too high but they say it will lower when I begin dialysis.  I’m still loosing weight, which is a good thing in my case.

When I finish the hankie edging and the sock edgings I shall share photos.  A nice thing about going to the doctor is the people who talk with me about tatting.  A frail little lady sat next to me Wed as I worked on the hankie.  Her mother had tatted and she remembered how she sat and worked edgings for blouses, aprons and such.  She was ’still’ a bit upset that her Mother’s One shuttle was missing and she didn’t get to have it but, “I think I know who took it, my nephew’s wife!”   There’s a bit of animosity in that story; anyway, we had a chat and she had very nice memories of her Mom.  It is amazing how the Lord gives us opportunities to have sharing times with others that seem to lift them up, seemingly by chance.  That is another reason I love tatting...it reaches out and touches people.

An End and a Beginning

I ended the month of May by completing the necklace I was making for my daughter Kristen.  It is Lynn Morton’s lovely triangle design with beads added; and, a tatted split ring in lieu of a chain.  I added the green crystal hearts.  I haven’t done very many jewelry pieces; and, I’d make changes to this pattern on the next one.  I will probably do another because the pattern is relatively quick.  Next time I’d plan ahead and coordinate gold thread with gold jump rings and fastenings.  This time, I used what I had on hand which was silver and a crystal pave magnetic heart fastener.  I’d love to see this done with silver thread, blue crystals, and silver findings.  I did make matching earrings for the necklace; I may cut those apart and re do them.  I really wasn’t satisfied with how the green crystal hearts were hanging.

The brown rosary I had completed for Geoginia had an ‘accident’.  The tiger eyes cut the thread, with the handling, and I had to redo the bottom part.  I substituted brown pearls which were lighter in weight and size.  I think if I’d put beads on the outside of each end of the tiger eye, it would have acted as a spacer and cushioned the thread.  Something to keep in mind with rosaries.  They are handled a lot and some are heavier handed than others.  Geroginia said that she was always breaking rosaries!   Let’s hope this fix works for her.  She had asked for pearls like the ones on Luz’s rosary (which is holding together just fine).

The end of the month of May also had two other events.  Omar graduated with his teaching certificate and landed a position teaching Spanish and coaching soccer and tennis at Carlsbad, New Mexico.  They will set up housekeeping there in the fall.  In the meantime they are temporarily in El Paso, Texas residing with a good friend of Omar’s.  Here is the graduation guy and a very expectant wife, Bekah.

In between these events, the surgery for the fistula was completed.  My SonInLove demanded a photo to make sure the ‘old girl’ was ok...so I sent him these.  Of course, I had to be a little silly since these photos were for Richard.  LOL  He’d expect no less from moi!

 

The great surprise was that this did not keep me from tatting at all; and, Pippa could still be held and petted!  These were taken at the motel when I came home from surgery.

BUT the BIG EVENT on May 17th was the ARRIVAL of ZELLA VILUZ MELENDEZ.  Tah Da!

May 17th  10:33 PM  7 lbs 6 oz   20” tall    At 2 1/2 days old in El Paso, TX   The BEGINNING of another generation; our Great Granddaughter (this makes 4 gt. granddaughters) Zella!  My Mother would be so ecstatic to have this baby named in her honor.  If baby Zella has half of Mom’s spirit and spunk, she’ll be a firecracker!

Leo, their dog, worries so over Zella.  When people hold her, he stands guard.  He is going to be her best friend and guardian.

Back to tatting.  Diane C. kindly sent me one of her hankies and I’m taking the plunge with size 80 thread which I do not use very often. It is the one that has the pink flowers and “Mother” embroidered upon it.

Also, I’m tatting animals for a quilt for Zella; I have a hippo (from the Tat it and See).  I shall have to hire someone to actually make the block quilt; but I can do all the tatting.  I’m using Jane E and Martha Ess animals; hummm, let’s see what animal could “Z” become (Zebra? Zebu?).  A is for Alligator, B is for Badger?  Won’t this be fun with all the choices.  I don’t want it to be the regular critters one sees...want to think out of the box on this one.  All ideas are welcomed.  “G” is saved for Giraffe because I’ve wanted to tat Jane’s Giraffe forever; and, most of Zella’s blankie, stroller cover, stuffed toy all seem to have a Giraffe theme.  Even her onsie s!

That takes care of the month of May!  And I didn’t even cover my Mother’s Day gift and flowers nor Kristen’s birthday on May 23d!   Kristen received additional jewelry and a special Tatted Turtle from Terri Deusenbury’s Turtle Cove.

Looking forward to June as this year I REALLY will be 75 years old on June 12th and will begin dialysis soon after.

. . .”bring May flowers"

Southern New Mexico has not had any rain at all, so much of our surroundings are tinder dry and fires are the elephant in the room!  I needed a quick bookmark for the Tatting Forum bookmark a month challenge, and went to Kaye Judt’s book, “A Little O’ This A Little O’ Tat”.  It isn’t my favorite book, but it was at hand and I needed a bookmark!  I’ve decided to tat a few things from the book and then give it to someone who might enjoy it more.  This is called Blossom Bookmark and is a ‘fast tat’.  She suggested 2 shuttles; but I used three so I could have a stem with more body.  Also, since I used leftover thread on 3 shuttles, I wasn’t that particular about the colors.  It is all Lisbeth thread. OOPS, it also has a bit of TatSkool’s Antique Bronze as a mix with the green.    Finished, it still seems a little flimsy and without substance to me...but it does work as a bookmark and that is all that was needed.  I’m finding that I can’t tat with quite a tight tension as I had been doing; since the right wrist still has a bit of discomfort.  My next bookmark is going to be Nancy Tracy’s Baseball Bat; a project that I can really enjoy and get ‘into’.  LOL