Has it been that long???

I see that it has been a long time since posting on my blog. Where has the year of 2012 gone? Well, I have lots of pics of the last year on our facebook site. It was easier to post there than to our blog for a while. Guess they have updated it as it wasn't too bad getting these pics on here. So, I am just going to start from now and not worry about all the past pics and info.

We have many looks here in the Northwest. I love how the rain had sort of stopped and then we had the sun come out for a bit. Just enough to get a few great photos. I liked this one the best, that is why the post.

I believe this is going to be Phil's signature pumpkin look from now on. Yes, it is a new pumpkin and yes, it looks like last years. But he carves them, so I love them all.

Phil was so excited to see the Trick or Treaters this year. He was standing by the door just waiting to give out two...or three...or four...pieces of candy to each one. Yep...he was a happy man.

So, this is the current quilting project. I started this quilt about 1 1/2 yrs ago and then put it away as I needed special templates for it. Well, I got the templates and then still put it away. So, now it is out and I am going along on it really nicely. The hardest part was cutting all these templates out. But I like the look and am glad to be finishing another quilt top. Guess that is it for now. Hope to keep posting now that I can get the pics on our blog a little faster. Have a great month. See you soon.

Update on last post

I was looking at my blog and realized that I never finished the last one. I had placed pictures on there but didn't get a chance to come back and write on it.

So, you can probably tell that I enjoyed my visit to Michigan in September. I had stayed with Nick, Julie and Caleb and had so much fun with them. Caleb loved looking at books and helped with many things like packing, sorting tupperware, cleaning his plate (with his tongue, of course), and just being a great little man for his Mimi to have wonderful memories of. Nick and Julie have purchased a house and Caleb was checking out his bathtub in one of the pics.

I also went to my sisters home for the evening. As it was close to my birthday, she invited my brother and sister-in-law and my Aunt Nancy for supper. We had a fun evening of visiting and sharing memories.

Since I have been home, I have completed a raffle quilt, gone clamming twice with our dear friends, been busy with quilting and stitching and keeping my EGA friends advised by doing the newsletter. I have found that since I am on facebook and it is easier to post albums there, I have a tendency to forget about this blog. So, I will try and be a bit more diligent in updating this for you in the future.

We leave soon for Michigan to spend the holidays with our sons, daughters-in-law and, of course, our little man, Caleb. Will be a mixed emotional time as we also remember my Mom who passed away last year on the 17th. But life goes on and Caleb is a highlight for all of us as we will enjoy the smiles and fun with all of our family.

Merry Christmas and a safe holiday season!

Phil's trip to Japan

Phil left Oregon to escape the drab, dreary weather and do a run-off on a machine that he purchased. So, he gets to Tokyo and it is their monsoon season, so therefore, hot, drab and rainy. What can I say...that's the way the weather goes.

This is downtown Tokyo from the state building, 52 stories up. Yep, pretty drab.
See, he did go for work. Well at least he has a hard hat on.
This little guy was at the Mitsui Seiki Company festival. Guess he misses Caleb.
On a day off, they went to a shrine where they do a ceremony of the hand washing.
While there, there was a Japanese wedding in traditional attire.
The procession going into the shrine...love that umbrella over the bride/groom.
This was an old ship building facility. It is now an amphitheater out of it and the surrounding area.
The escort from the company, Howard, decided that they should go up this huge Ferris wheel...approximately 400 feet tall. Not to Phil's liking.

The view from the top shared space with this roller coaster.

Phil & Mark are in front of famous shrine in Tokyo.

Outside of the shrine was a Buddha...if you rubbed any part of his body, that's what you were praying to heal on your body. So, Phil wanted to get more smarts...or maybe more hair???
A pagoda near the Shrine.
This is the altar in the Shrine. Very ornate.
An incense pot is where you rubbed smoke from it on your body before entering the Shrine.
One of the men has a granddaughter who wanted a Pokemon stuffed character. So they went to Pokemon Center in Tokyo.
This was taken at the half way mark up Mt. Fuji.
This goose was at a cold water spa...a flightless goose at that. Hope you enjoyed Phil's mini show from Japan.