Boo

                                    A few spooky items created through the years

McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park

I stumbled on this state park after driving through Mount Lassen National Park on my way to Portland this month.












It was a drizzly rainy day, but the weather cleared just in time for me to hike down to the bottom of the falls.




It was gorgeous.  A magnificent series of falls visible from the nicely paved walkway all the way down.



Trail Posts: A Literary Exploration of California's State Parks  Darryl Babe Wilson, a native of the Pit River Tribe,  recalls a childhood in the oaks, and lakes and rivers of the area 

 

Bliss

 Bliss, a study in purple, was one of the first completions of my 2017/2018 leftover collection. 

It was adopted by Mariah on the day her pending marriage was announced to the extended family during our family gathering in Minnesota.

The wedding took place this month.  It was a wonderful ceremony, unique just like the celebrants!!!!

The Great Outdoors

The great outdoors has been part of my life since I was a baby.  

1952

1953

1956

First there was the teardrop trailer, then the bigger trailer.  We visited parks on our way to Minnesota, and around California. We climbed mountains and went boating and fishing. Every family member has heard the story of stubborn Catherine, who at the age of two was determined to climb the mountain with the Dads and older kids.  I finally was allowed but only with the understanding I had to walk the entire way.  I have no two year old memories, so I can't corroborate the story  that goes on to say I made it to the top and back down to the bottom and then I slept for an entire day!  


Later as the family grew bigger and Dad no longer found much time for summer vacations, there was Camp Pendola in the foothills near Nevada City.  In high school there was Camp Sierra, a camp for the developmentally disabled, where I worked as a counselor or kitchen staff for three summers. 

1979

1979

Fortunately, Greg was even more into the outdoors than I. For more than forty years we backpacked, camped and hiked through the parks of California.  No trailer for us, it was tent or under the stars until we found Sardine Lake in 2006.  There we had the pleasure of a cabin for a week or two each fall.

Joining the California State Parks Foundation and the San Mateo County Parks Foundation allowed us to support the great outdoors that we so enjoyed.  It also provided access to some wonderful “insider tours.”

It is my intention in this blog to share pictures and a few memories of my sixty-six years and counting of travel to the National, California and San Mateo County Parks and Historical sites.

Forty Years and counting

I first began quilting in the late 1970s.  Early efforts dictated by affordability of materials and lack of skills.  Although I'm not sure the skills are better, they are more "mature".  In other words, I've gotten better at hiding the mistakes!

Over the years I've given quilts to many family members, most are still around, although a few of those early ones are nearly in pieces.

This year I've been working on my "Leftovers" collection.  A series of lap quilts which were meant to use up materials sitting around the house.  The problem is, I keep shopping for more.  I can't resist adding a fat quarter here and there ... and there is always the need to find that very special piece.  I've been throwing bits and pieces of cross stitch, lace and other long ago projects into the mix.  It's great fun!!