All Grown Up!!!

Daughter number 5 graduated from the University of Oregon last week. We had a great time, four of the McKinley daughters were in attendance, as well as, a few very close friends. 

Of course the weather did not disappoint, Saturday 80 degrees, Sunday 72, Monday, graduation day, 60 degrees and raining!  And......graduation was outside! 

the happy graduate

4 of the 5 daughters



After graduation, daughter number 5 and her roommates hosted a potluck.  We had a great time, meeting the families of the girls that we have gotten to know over the last four years.



One of the moms made the cutest Oregon Duck cookies!!

Daughter number 4 and her best friend! The best friend's mom made the cookies!!

I have a lot of posts to catch up on....several swaps to share and, a special package from a special blog pal came yesterday in the mail!  I can't wait to show you!!

Stay tuned...more to come!



chris

Yabba Dabba Do!!!

Tammy who blogs at Tammy's in Love sent an email a few weeks ago, letting me know that she was hosting a swap.  A Vintage Cartoon Tag Swap..... I thought about it  and sent an email back explaining to Tammy that I just couldn't join this time....I had too much going on. 

Then I started thinking about what was my favorite cartoon.....and then I started looking for images of my favorite cartoon.  And then I found it!  The perfect image!!! Sooooo, I emailed Tammy back and said count me in! 

Today was the day I mailed them...................

What could be more fun than sitting at the beach with your best friend? An umbrella, a little SP15 and Wilma and Betty are set!!

I was 3 when the Flintstones debuted and 9 when the show ended.  The Flintstones were a Prime Time cartoon show....cartoons in the evening? What a treat! I had a Pebbles doll that I loved and I took her everywhere with me.

So it only made sense that when I needed a to create a tag that featured my favorite cartoon, I choose Wilma and Betty at the Beach!!



chris

Christmas in June???

I mentioned in a post a couple of weeks ago that I was traveling to Atlanta, to visit daughter number 1 who is expecting a baby in a month or so, and to attend a baby shower hosted by her sister-in-law and a close friend. 

I needed to take a gift, and it had to fit nicely in my suitcase.....I had already made a quilt, for the shower that was held here in California, so that was off the list. After thinking about it I decided that I would make Christmas Stockings.  I need to make 4.....1 for daughter number 1, 1 for my son-in-law, one for my new granddaughter, and 1 for Ally the dog.

This is for my new granddaughter. I used a foundation piecing method... I cut a stocking shape out of a piece of muslin. I raided my stash of Christmas fabrics and starting cutting.  The best part about foundation piecing is there is no pattern to follow.....it turns out like a crazy quilt. I added a few pink fabrics and used leftover Valentine fabric and cut out a heart to add to this stocking.

This is daughter number 1's. I add the same pink fabric to this one that I used on the grandbaby's.

Ally the dog, has a stocking with fabric that has dogs on it, and I added one piece that has cats on it too!

And my son-in-law gets this one. He is a fan of Jerry Garcia and his music....in addition to being a musician, Jerry Garcia was an artist. I happened to have an old Christmas tie designed by Jerry Garcia so I cut it up and added it to the stocking.

I used a few vintage doilies, with red tatting to edge the stockings. The stockings all have a little different shape, as I drew my stocking shape free hand.  I brought the stockings home so I can add names to them. I know three of the names that need to be added, but the name of the baby is a surprise!!  Daughter number 1 and her husband loved the stockings.

I think they turned out well....if I do say so myself!!

chris



This Weekend!!

I travel to Eugene, Oregon for daughter number 5's college graduation. She is graduating from University of Oregon.  She is the 3rd McKinley girl to graduate from the University of Oregon.

Over the years Mr. Math and I have spent many days in Eugene. It is one of my favorite towns to visit. And one of my favorite things to do in Eugene is visit the Saturday Market.  They have food vendors, and a farmers market. Local vendors and artisans, and musicians.

Daughter number 2, helping at the Dana's Cheesecake food booth. She worked for Dana's for 6 years all through college and a couple of years after she graduated. Her family away from home....so nice to have someone love her like we do!!

If you are ever in Eugene and have a chance to go to the Saturday market, you have to stop at Dana's.....the best cheesecake ever, and a reputation in Eugene for brewing the best coffee!!

Daughter number 5 and I a few years ago at the Saturday Market!

Eugene here we come!!



chris

They're Off!!

Well, my tags for the Box Lunch Social, hosted by Elizabeth at Creative Breathing are in the mail.  They should have arrived in Ohio, today....thank goodness for Fed Ex and work discounts!

The image I used was on a vintage birthday card.... a darling picture of two young children heading down to the fishing hole.....the young girl holding her dog and then sitting down, patiently watching as her beau fishes...



Packaged in wax paper, tied with vintage bias tape...the wax paper wrapped and folded like my mom used to wrap my peanut butter and jelly sandwich!!

Thanks to all my imaginary friends...my blog pals who offered words of encouragement.....the tags are done and in the mail!!

chris

Focus....Focus....

.... something I'm struggling with right now..... I need to finish my tags for the Lunch Box Special Tag Swap, hosted by Elizabeth who blogs at Creative Breathing.

I've been spending too much time Monkeying Around!

I have a plan or should I say a theme, but I seem to only get so far!! Still trying to think of that special something!

Tomorrow's D-Day.....I need to finish them and get them in the mail!

Crossing my fingers it all comes together!!

chris



A Gift!!

Today I came home from work and there was present on the kitchen table.....with my name on it.  It was from one of the Flea Market Friends.

It was a gift for the Nana to be!! As I've mentioned daughter number 1 and her husband are expecting a baby girl mid July.  Of course, I am so looking forward to being a Nana!!

There is a lovely note on the back, telling me that the picture is a page from a cloth book dated 1955, and that she used her Grandma's pinking shears from the 1940's to cut the page.  This picture will hang in a special place...I am not sure if I will hang it in my crafting room or if I will hang it in my bedroom.

I am traveling to Atlanta tomorrow to attend daughter number 1's baby shower. Looking forward to a couple of days off and spending time with my daughter. We are planning to go to an antique show on Friday afternoon, and I have a little shop in mind that I would like to visit.

chris

Sharing a Cup!!

Today I am joining the tea party, hosted by Sandi who blogs at Rose Chintz Cottage.

I am sharing a tea cup that belonged to my Nana Cote'.  It is one of my favorite tea cups....I love the colors!!  Black with pink and yellow roses!



It was made in England, and is marked Tuscan Fine English Bone China.

I am a green tea lover, and during the summer months, love a glass of ice tea, green or  black, with extra lemon!!



chris

Queen!!

When my mom moved in with us, she brought with her many things she could not part with. I cannot tell you how many boxes I have gone through in the last 8 years. Let's just put it this way....I still have boxes to go through.

Somewhere along the way I found these two biscuit tins....I'm not sure where she got them. The first one celebrates Queen Elizabeth's coronation in 1953.

This biscuit tin celebrates the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977.



I wonder what kind of souvenirs biscuit tins they have for her Diamond Jubilee..

chris

Looks Vintage To Me!!!

Thirty Three years ago I married my  best friend. We had a small wedding, about 80 people....perfect for St. Ann's Chapel in Palo Alto...a small parish near Stanford University.

It was 102 degrees, unusual for Palo Alto...it set a record that has yet to be broken.

Mr. Math gave me some lovely roses....one dozen red and one dozen yellow!

So Happy!!!

chris