What Happens After Class….

I’m teaching two Jamestown Landing workshops from String Fling on two back to back days, both full to the gills!  How exciting that there were that many on the waiting list that it warranted running the class twice so no one felt left out.

I made the executive decision yesterday afternoon that I would combine both workshop posts TOGETHER instead of having day 2 feel like a re-run of day 1 – and it’s a good thing because that leaves me room today to share with you why I love Southern California so much.

No, it’s not just the soft sand covered beaches and blue sky and bluer water --

I could listen to the waves crashing upon the shore for hours!

It’s the people I get to share this bit of paradise with!

See this little fella?  I have no clue who he is! LOL!

Debi and I were walking the area around Huntington Beach Pier before joining with a group of guild girls for dinner, and we were going to selfie ourselves in front of Ruby’s diner and as a group walked by, a young gentleman asked if we would like him to take our photo instead.  I said “SURE!”  After having done the same for another random stranger earlier on our walk.

I love “Random Acts of Photography” and practice them regularly!  It gives you a chance to see inside someone’s soul when you say “Smile!” and they do….and because they are smiling at you, you can’t help but smile back.  Try it sometime!

Anyway, We are framing up for our photo in front of Ruby’s and I feel this little shoulder against my leg.  I look down and here is this sweet little boy complete with ice cream cone, just photobombing to beat the band with a huge grin on his face.

“Would you like to be in our photo, too?” I asked him!  He said “YES!” and there you have it. 

These kinds of experiences are the best souvenirs for my heart.

Watching surfers.

Gazing north over the sun-worshippers.

Dinner at Fred’s Cantina, second level!

Fish tacos, friendship and so much laughter!

I love these moments when I am away from the classroom and have TIME to spend with students, and really getting to know them as people.  Stepping into their lives and becoming part of their day as well.  Life can be so transient with people coming and going in and out of our routines –it’s great to have some time to just sit and enjoy.  Thank you, ladies of the Orange Grove Quilters Guild!

And that wasn’t all.  As we were sitting here for dinner, I was getting pings on my phone.  Kevin the Quilter is a flight attendant for Southwest, and he was landing at Long Beach airport, not far from Huntington Beach at all!  Back to the car Debi and I go….and we are off…

Kevin needs Quilter time after a long work day!

And it all goes down better with ice cream!

Perfect end to a perfect day!

And what made it even better ---

Yesterday morning I pulled myself out of bed, threw myself in the shower after oversleeping my alarm just a bit (This week on the go has gotten to me, and 6am is way too early right now!) and I noticed when stepping out of the shower that my Garmin Vivofit 2 was MISSING.  I was wearing the wrist band, but the unit itself was AWOL.

I pulled off all the sheets, I looked all around the bed (Mattress is on a box, no UNDER the bed to search) and I even called Christi to see if it was dropped mistakenly on the boat the night before.  The friend who gave me a ride back to my hotel also checked her car --- no garmin to be found.

I thought maybe it had sunk to the depths of the deep blue sea while standing at the bow of the ship doing my best Titanic impersonation…..sigh.  Lost forever with the fishes.

After getting back to the hotel room last night I had one last place to check:

I FOUND IT!

I reached between the mattress and the wall below the headboard…no way to SEE my way, you just have to FEEL your way. (this is where things can get gross, you know?!) But I felt it and pulled it up.  I found it.

You would think when you spend over $100 for a tracker that the wrist band wouldn’t be so flimsy. 

The worst part?  All of that walking the beach and pier yesterday didn’t record steps on anything.  LOL!

So off I go to day 2 of Jamestown Landing --

This afternoon I’m being dropped off an airport hotel close to LAX for my flight home tomorrow.

Quiltville Quote of the Day!

When someone doesn't love you the way you want them to - it doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have. This especially applies to family members.

Sometimes we have to love people in spite of themselves.

Vintage doll quilt shared during yesterday's workshop.  Here is the whole thing:

Precious!  The squares finish about 3/4”.

Made by a great-grandmother, for a grandmother and finding it’s way from generation to generation to great granddaughter!

It’s FRIDAY!  Make it a good one!

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