We had a very successful trip to Walnut Creek yesterday. I found all the gifts I wanted to purchase from Sarah’s wish list, picked up some great wrapping supplies from The Container Store, and a few goodies for myself. I only went into shops we don’t have access to at home. Sarah drove over after her class and was able to find a couple of pairs of comfortable shoes after our delicious lunch at Stanfords.

This morning Sarah and I had manicures and pedicures. After lunch we picked up the last of the groceries we needed for Thanksgiving so we can avoid the grocery store tomorrow.  Adam’s parents arrived on time despite awful weather in Washington with roads that were nearly impassable last night. Adam and his parents have gone to pick up his sister, Allison, who just arrived in San Francisco after a non-stop flight from London. It will be the first time both families have been together since Sarah and Adam’s wedding four years ago.

Here’s the third card we made in our Memory Box class:

This card utilized the same blending technique as yesterday’s card. The simple line of rhinestones forms a sway across the top. The “peace” sentiment is another of the adhesive rub-ons and although it’s hard to tell, is covered with red glitter. I really like these and hope Memory Box continues to make them. I bought just one set of brocade designs. The rest were holiday designs and I knew I wouldn’t need them this year. All the patterned papers on these cards are by Memory Box as well.

We’ve been in California for two days. The weather has been cool, frequently rainy, but the landscape is more like October in New York than November.

 We’ve been busy in the kitchen. Gingerbread cookies, sugar cut-out cookies, and double mint chocolate chip cookies are made and in the freezer.  This afternoon we made my mother’s snack mix, enough to fill four gallon bags.

 It’s so good, we finally put two bags in Sarah’s freezer and I hid the other two. Adam’s parents and sister arrive on Tuesday. It would be nice to have some left to share.

Today we’re off to Walnut Creek to do some Christmas shopping. I’ll get to browse two of my favorite stores:  Crate and Barrel and The Container Store. Sarah’s coming over after her class to have lunch with us, and we’ll do some clothes and shoes shopping then.

Here’s the second card we made at our Memory Box class a week ago.

To create the focal image we rubbed distress inks in from the edge with sponge daubers. Then the snowflake was stamped with gold ink. The card was supposed to have a punched edge around it. I started on one side, but really didn’t like it, so I cut it off and cropped the rest of the image. It’s mounted on beautiful gold shimmer paper, and then on an even more beautiful brown shimmer cardstock. Neither show up well in the photograph. We stamped the swag with a single holly branch stamp, angling it as we stamped. Then it was cut out by hand and added to the card with dimensional adhesive.

Yes, that’s right, it’s plural. Sarah and Adam are expecting twins!! We’ve known for a while, but they didn’t want anything to get out before they told their congregation yesterday. We are all very excited, but evidently twice the hormones equals more than one share of morning sickness. Thus my trip to California earlier this month. Although it’s actually worse at night than in the morning, Sarah is beginning to feel a bit better. Hopefully, it will clear up soon as she has a busy schedule this fall taking two classes at Berkeley and teaching one at San Francisco Seminary. We are so excited for them and for us!!!

Early this morning I thought there’d be a bouquet of balloons gracing this post. I looked out our window about 3 am and saw a huge bouquet of balloons tied to one of our yard decorations in the front. Sadly, the wind and rain blew half of them away by the time it was light, although I did rescue the second bunch from the driveway. I think I know who the balloon ladies are, but if there was a note, it also disappeared. 

On another front, the studio move is nearly complete. There is just one large and one small job left to do, but I am in my new space (photos later when it’s all done) and loving it. It feels very extravagant to have such a beautiful, large space just for me. Matt says the change makes so much better use of the space, and I think he’s right. The little room where I’ve worked for the last 7-8 years really looks tiny now that I’m out of there. We need to paint that room, and buy a bookcase and perhaps, a small coffee table and then we’ll be done. Everything is put away for now.

Neither of my hutches from the old desk worked on the new one, so I had more organizing and purging to do over the weekend. Everything has a home now, and there’s still way too much stuff for one crafter. I’d love to have you come over and share!

Here’s the last of the cards I made before the move. (You can’t have a post without some photos!) The first one is a definite lift of a card I saw on Dawn McVey’s blog last week and just had to copy.

Cardstock: Dark Chocolate (Papertrey Ink); patterned paper: Turning a New Leaf  & Bitty Dot Basics (Papertrey Ink); ribbon: Ripe Avocado (Papertrey Ink); doily: Martha Stewart; stamps: Take Three: Summer  (Papertrey Ink); flowers & brad from stash.

Cardstock: ColorMates (WorldWin) & Bazzill; patterned paper: Basics & Kioshi (Basic Grey); stamp: Scenic Route; gems: Kaiser; Nestability Heart (Spellbinders)

This was my first attempt at making a clear card. Tracy liked it a lot, but it’s not an easy card to photograph.

It’s been quite a lovely day. Tracy and I started the day at the Brighton Farmer’s Market. It’s becoming a weekly habit, and we bring home the nicest organic fruits and vegetables. Today I bought a beautiful bouquet as well. We then picked up a student from the school where Tracy worked for 25+ years, her sister and mother and brought them to church. Our church hosts a tutoring program at the school and a group of sixth graders read a poem and talked about their plans for the future this morning during our Focus on Mission. Church was followed by an ice cream social which marks the end of our regular schedule for the year. During the summer we operate on a different time frame and without the weekly presence of our fabulous chancel choir.

Tracy spent the afternoon working on the boat and practicing some golf shots while I got in some crafting time. This evening Matt joined us and we drove to Canandaigua Lake for dinner at Steamboat Landing. We had reserved a table outside overlooking the lake. It was warm, breezy, and just right for a lakeside dinner. The food and service were excellent, and we had a great time.

The north end of Canandaigua Lake.

The patio at Steamboat Landing.

The guys. Prime rib for Tracy and chicken wings for Matt. I had a wonderful seafood combination of crab cake, grilled scallops, and shrimp. I was surprised to see the sun flare when I uploaded the photo, but I kind of like it.

Dad and his son.

I hope your day was equally pleasant!