Journal Cover

I few weeks ago I bought a Women's Success Choice Planner and ever since then I have been wanting to make a cover for it. The WSCP website offers covers for sale and even though I am very tempted to buy one of their beautiful leather covers I think it is wiser to make one from fabric.

There are lots of tutorials to be found. My initial choice was the "Quilted Planner Cover" from      www.sewfearless.com However, it would have required more supplies than I had on hand and since   I did not feel like making another trip to the store I decided on Andrea's tutorial by WatermelonWishes.
It was super quick and super easy and here is the result:

Now my planner has a beautiful home.

FMQ with Angela Walters

Saturday, March 22, I was lucky enough to attend a FMQ class held by Angela Walters. It was hosted by the FRMQG in Englewood.
The room was full of friendly chatter, encouragement and awe.
A.W. drew her quilting designs on a board and talked about them before we had a chance to practice on a small quilt sandwich. It was so interesting and lots of fun.
I found that I am feather challenged. Cannot draw one if my life depended on it. But I like pebbles and some of the geometric designs seem rather easy.
Still under the influence of so much FMQ talent I spent most of Sunday's afternoon quilting my Little Black Dress quilt. I finished all the blocks in a geometric square block design and filled the inner border with meandering circles. Now, all that's left is the outer border.

Citrus Fruit

I am very happy to be living in Colorado. One thing I am missing there is having citrus fruit trees.
From Tahquiz golf course I could see trees heavy with grapefruit. I had to control myself not to pick them.
Last night as we were walking on the golf course we came by several lemon trees. I struck up a conversation with one of the residents and now have permission to take some lemons each time I pass the trees. Limoncello, here I come. I'll take them home to CO and each time I have a sip of Limoncello I'll be reminded of Palm Springs.
This morning we took the dogs for their walk and into the subdivision with the grapefruit trees. I took 2 grapefruit home and am having the freshest fruit for breakfast now.
Life is good!
So much to be thankful for.

But of course not all is peaches and cream. There is a big question on the horizon that requires some thought and needs an answer: ought I to make good on a youthful omission and finally learn to play an instrument? As A child I had zero interest in such an endeavor, but for some time I feel that I missed out. In addition I just started listening to classical music and the sound of violins really has me smitten.
Youtube has some basic information on student level violins. This is enormously helpful as I have not the least idea about violins and violin playing. There is much to be learned. And much to be pondered.

Palm Springs, CA

We started our road trip to Palm Springs, CA on March 13th at 22:00.
The smaller half of the back seat was folded over, and the length of that narrow space polstered with yoga mats and quilts. Andreas was driving the first 400 miles (speed control set at 68mph to make the fuel last longer) while I was stretched out in the back with Satchmo and Moby on top and right next to me. So, I didn't get to sleep as much nor as well as I thought. I was also worried about Andreas driving throughout the night by himself.
It worked well enough for me to take over shortly after Albuquerque, NM, and make it all the way past Sedona, AZ. Sometime along the way, I thought It'd be nice to document the landscape a little bit.

I really got excited when I saw this sign. Even though we needed to turn south and away from the Grand Canyon.

We are approaching Flagstaff, AZ. Can you see the snow covered mountains way in the back ground?

All in all it took us 19 hours and we were all very happy to finally get out of the car. The hotel room was not yet ready and so we had to bide our time. We walked to the nearby Trader Joe's store and that was all the dog were able to manage in the heat. They drank up the water super fast. Back in the hotel we hung out in the lobby. We were all wearing a little thin by the time we finally got into the room. Thankfully, we got the room we requested, first floor, out back. It's so much easier to get in and out with easy access to a small strip of grass.

After unloading and unpacking, the dogs got their dinner and then Andreas and I went shopping.
Then finally our dinner, a shower and then I fell asleep, near comatose.

This morning, The boys woke me up at 5:30, not yet used to the different time zone. Taking our sweet time we went for a walk, had breakfast, did laundry and then I did some shopping. Of course, I had to visit Quilter's Faire, where I found a pattern and fabric.

Then off to play some golf and chill in' afterwards.

View of Bob Hope's house. Visible from just about anywhere in PSP. What a neat design.

Golf course scenery.