Phantom

Yes we did wake up to more snow, however, it didn't stick around very long and was pretty much melted by 11:00. See yesterday's post if you are confused! The cold temperatures have stuck around though.

After working the morning shift at the church today I spent the afternoon with Marion watching the movie "Phantom of the Opera."  I really enjoyed it.  I had gone, many years ago, to see the stage production of it, and really enjoyed that live version.  The movie was somewhat different from the stage production though.  There were some added scenes which explained a little more about the phantom, and they helped me to better understand the story.  The live version modeled more after the book though, which didn't include those details.  At least that's my take on it after reading a synopsis of the book.  I hadn't given it any thought before now, however, I think I'm going to check out the book from the library, if I can find it.  I think I'd enjoy reading it.

Of course, one of the best things about the "Phantom of the Opera" is the music.  After watching it today I had to get out my ipod and hear the "Phantom" music.  Really great music, and it has to be turned up really loud!  Can anyone listen just once?  I know I can't!

Home Again

Yeah, we are finally back home!  Enjoyed the visit with kids and grandkids, but it is good to be back.  We drove home on Saturday and have been busy recuperating for the last couple of days.  The cat is glad we're back too, judging from the constant loud meowing directed at us!

It was a cold, rainy day today so I decided to bake some bread to help warm things up a bit. I made some potato bread which was really quick and easy.  It rises very quickly and bakes up fast also.  The recipe said it would make one loaf but there was way too much dough for that so I split it in half and made two big loaves.  I don't know where they got the idea for only one loaf!

I tried to score the top of one, but as you can see, it didn't work out well.  So I didn't even try to score the second loaf.  It tastes very yummy!

Later this evening I opened the front door and was surprised to see snow.  I hadn't even noticed when it started.

Not too much, but it is cold enough that there might be more in the night.

And this ought to leave a nice puddle in the garage!  Well, we'll see if we wake up to more snow in the morning.

A Day For Play

Yesterday the kids had the President's Day holiday.  So there was no school, and even some (Jason) had no work.  The weather didn't want to cooperate as you can see.

So we were trying to figure out what to do to keep the kids busy and not fighting!

We found a solution finally.

Downtown in the industrial area there is a big warehouse and when you walk inside there are lots of kids!  Here is a first glimpse.

Can you tell what it is?  The whole room is full of bouncehouses and climbing areas.  That big green and red bubble in the middle is like a huge trampoline.  The parents bring their kids and just let them play.  There is an area for the parents to sit back at tables and watch their kids.  The place sells drinks and snacks for all....at really good prices.  They don't try to gouge you.  It's quite unique.  I guess that's what happens when winters are full of snow, they come up with great alternatives!  The place even provides free wifi.  I saw lots of parents sitting with their ipads and smartphones working.

So we spent about 3 hours there and the kids had a really great time.

Some of the pictures came out blurry.  I tried to take some when they came down the slide, but none of them came out well at all.

Since Jason had the day off he decided to have some fun too.

I think he had more fun than the kids!

After all the kids were tired out we headed for home.  On the way we stopped in to have an early dinner.  We stopped at Chic Fil A.  Of course, they have a playground for the kids there also.  So after dinner was finished the kids headed in to play some more.  Katie came out when she saw her favorite character wandering up and down the aisles.

She loves this cow!  This was about the 20th hug.

Everyone slept well last night after all that work!

A Place to Relax

I was sitting in the beanbag while doing a few things on the computer.  I decided a cup of tea sounded really good so I got up and put the water on.

When I finished getting my tea ready I came back into the living room with my steaming cup, all ready to sit back down and finish up my projects that I had been working on.

My comfy beanbag had been taken over.

I had to find a new place to sit cause he just looked too comfy!  Is he spoiled or what?

I'm Just Sayin

I was talking on the phone last night to Marion, trying to explain to her what our new vehicle looked like.  I couldn't explain it well enough so I got up, walked outside and took a picture, then came back in and uploaded it to my computer and forwarded the picture to her email.  I did all this while I was still talking to her on the phone.  I told her I had sent the picture and she looked at her email and said, "Oh yeah, I've seen them before."

I have a reason for telling this story.

After I got through talking to Marion I was thinking about how I had sent her the picture and she didn't have to wait at all.  Then I was thinking about how 20 - 25 years ago it would have been such a different story.  In fact, 20 years ago, I don't think I would have been able to even imagine how this transfer could have happened.

I remember as a child going to Disneyland and seeing all the futuristic information in Tomorrowland.  I remember the phones where we could call friends and it was on a speakerphone so everyone could talk and hear.  I also remember the posters informing us that someday people would be able to call and see who they were talking to.  It just didn't seem possible at the time!

Now that future is here and I gotta say, there are too many people spending all their time in front of a screen of some sort.  They are either texting, (and driving) playing video games, watching a movie on their phone or ipad, or working at any number of other electronic activities that I don't even know about yet.  So many people don't spend enough time with other people because of all these gadgets.  I do think this is sad, and I do hope that people learn how to balance their lives and their technology.

On the other hand.

I also think that the internet, computers, digital cameras, cell phones, Skype, twitter, and others I don't even know about;  these are some of the greatest things out there!  I love that I can send messages whenever I need to, to anyplace, and get an immediate response.  I love that I can take pictures and see the results immediately, and that I can either delete them or "fix" them on my computer if I don't like what I see.   I love that I can watch a season of "Frasier" on my phone while waiting for hours in the doctors office.  I love that I can call my grandkids in another state and get to see them while I'm talking to them.

I wouldn't want to change any of it.  I can't imagine not having it.  I wouldn't want to be without it.

Remember the "Jetsons?"  I think we're just about there aren't we?  In fact, today I think the "Jetsons" would be outdated!  Well, we still don't fly around in our vehicles. Yet!

Random Quilting Information

I just discovered a quilting blog that is really full of quilting ideas.... and is written by a man who loves to quilt. He is a young working dad with 3 young kids.  Both him and his wife, who is a full time student, like to quilt.  I know that there are some men who like to quilt so that isn't too unusual, but I still haven't figured out how such busy parents find so much time to quilt when I sure don't get that much done!  And I have lots of time.... which I must be using wrong!

At any rate, I'm going to start working on a few more projects, including a throw for myself for in the evenings when I sit and read and want to stay cozy. In all the quilts that I've made, I realized that I've never made one for myself!  I also have a couple of ideas for birthday gifts for granddaughters.  One idea came from granddaughter Kayla when she was telling me what she wanted for her birthday, when it comes around.  I just have to look for a pattern that will work, which I haven't found yet.

I was planning on looking yesterday, and I had gone into Joanne's to look at their quilt books because there was a special 20% discount for the day, and I thought I might find something.  Unfortunately there wasn't much of anything left on their shelves.  Our local Joanne's is building a new store which is almost finished, and I'm not sure why, but they are liquidating their old store instead of moving the stock, and it has cleared out quickly. I couldn't believe that there was nothing in the quilting section.  They just began advertising and I thought it wouldn't clear out so fast.  There is only one store up here and I didn't want to drive 50 miles yesterday to go to another Joanne's so I will have to find more discounts later when the new store opens.  That won't be until the beginning of March.  I guess that isn't too far away.  Besides, I'm sure they will have lots of sales for the grand opening - and all that brand new merchandise!  It will be fun!

Meantime I'm going to make some of the "wonky" squares for my throw.  I have plenty of scrap strips for that.

A Colorful Sunset

Some pictures of this evening's sunset after the cloudy skies and rain cleared some.

Then, much later in the evening, the clouds returned and we had more sprinkles.  It wasn't very cold, though.  Still not really winter weather.  I guess winter is passing us by this year.

Wonder what tomorrow's weather will be?