Thursday, June 30, 2011

Really Random Thursday

It rained yesterday in Fresno. Normally the rain stops in April and we don't see it again until November. But yesterday it was cool and rainy.

It is hard to photograph rain.

But it did make the yard look so cool and refreshing. And yes, we really do have a trombone as a water fountain.




We also have one that I use as a quilt rack.


Yesterday when I posted about the Weekender Bag finally being completed, I added a picture of Courtney, who is the granddaughter of my friend, Candy. She was posing with a bag that Candy had just completed and she looked so cute.
 So naturally I wanted a picture of Charlotte posing with the Weekender. Charlotte thinks it is sweet that I have a friend named Candy. (I think she may have actually said she thought it was "cool" but I think "sweet" is more appropriate.)

When our first grandchild, Caleb, was born and then passed away three days later, some verses kept running through my head. My father was a minister and often closed the service with these words:
"May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." I asked my dad what the scripture passage was and he said it was Numbers 6:22-26. When I looked it up in the Bible, I was shocked to read the verses immediately before, which were: The Lord said to Moses, "Tell Aaron and his sons...." Aaron is our son's name and I knew at that moment that it was no accident these verses were running through my head and giving me peace. My friends, Dave and Debbie, engrave words on rocks, and they made this for my keychain. Isn't it awesome?
The rain stopped by noon and the rest of the day was beautiful. We ate supper outside.

Played baseball.


And ate icecream.

And now the weather will get back to "normal" around here:
I leave for Minnesota a week from today for a quilting retreat. I'm taking my Featherweight, named Bonnie. Mark is used to my penchant for naming things, like quilts and his fused glass creations. For some reason he thinks naming my sewing machine is silly and never calls her by her proper name.
I don't think naming her is silly at all. Her case even has her name on it.
The other night when Mark and I were talking about the things I would need to take along for the retreat and the best way to pack them, I heard these words:

You're taking Bonnie along, right?

There was a moment of silence, and then he said:

I can't believe I just said that.

Score!

17 comments:

05 08
Carla said... #

I love all your randomness! Enjoy the "cooler" temps today. Gah....do your flowers bake or fry in those high temps? The key chain is so thoughtful and a lovely gift. I once stayed at a B & B where the towel rod was a trombone and the bed was made out of a piano. How's that for random?!

Grandma G said... #

I knew it!! Way to go, Miss Charlotte... it looks great on you! (Now just hop in Grandma's bag and come along to MN!)

Yeah... "sweet"... as if I hadn't heard that one a bzillion times! Thanks for the "cool", Charlotte! ;)

Now if only I really were cool... literally... mid90's today and extremely humid. Yuck.

Doris said... #

LOVE it!

Kris said... #

lol

Rene' said... #

Enjoy the cooler temperatures while you can. I just checked the weather for MN and was surprised (dismayed) to see how warm it will be....I guess warm is relative as those temperatures would be considered cool right now in Orlando but warm compared to Montana ;-) Can't wait to meet you and Bonnie! Love all your randomness this Thursday. Great pictures of the family...and the trombones ;-)

felicity said... #

Okay, first? I want to come to your house - for the trombones alone! Aweseome! I name things, too - my first car was Betsy, then we sold her and bought Elaine. Our current car is Goldie.

I chose that particular blessing for the final blessing at our wedding; I still love it.

Linda said... #

I loved your post today.
I'm so glad you had a scripture given you to help you through that painful time. I love it when I can see and feel the God's workings in my life. Even though we know he's there, its nice to have nudges.
Enjoy the cooler temperatures. I was there in the valley a couple of weeks ago and there was a heat wave. (Of course, 90 degrees didn't seem so bad when I stepped off the plane at home and it was 104!)

felicity said... #

Okay, first? I want to come to your house - for the trombones alone! Aweseome! I name things, too - my first car was Betsy, then we sold her and bought Elaine. Our current car is Goldie.

I chose that particular blessing for the final blessing at our wedding; I still love it.

The Luedtke Family said... #

I love that blessing, our church uses it quite often to close a service. We had it for each child's baptism service. I love those verses.

It looked too sunny to be raining.

You can always photograph rain dripping on the pavement. Well, we do with puddles and all.

Not only to I love the trombones, but the farm milk bucket and all other garden art.

She will be forever and always called "Bonnie"!

Does "featherweight" mean small and light, as in not heavy?

How many sewing machines do you have?

Are they all named?

Do you have a favorite?

Do you name your objects after first learning the personality? Or do you name first? Do the names fit?

In the quilting world, do all quilters name their quilts?

Does Bonnie have a nickname?

I only have one simple machine, a Janome, that my Mom gave me. It's fine for my little projects, but I am sure I would love more bells and whistles. Perhaps she needs a name . . . . .

Belinda said... #

Love this post! And I too love it when God nudges us a bit. It's a shame He has to remind us He's still working. I thought it was hot here in Arkansas. Woo wee girl.

Abby and Stephanie said... #

Love the bag in the Jessica Jones fabric. I have the pea pods from her first line.

Letterpress said... #

This really touched my heart, because my grandchildren and children are so much a part of me. That verse--just what you needed. I often find that scripture is like that, and so life goes better for me when I can remember to read it (don't always do this. . . sigh.)

The weather was lovely here yesterday, too, and we sat out on the patio last night and enjoyed dinner at a friend's house, overlooking the valley below. We couldn't believe how pleasant it was. No worries--heat's back today.

Have fun on your retreat! I hope you'll post about what you're doing.

Elizabeth E.

Elizabeth Dackson said... #

I love your trombones!!! Especially the trombone quilt holder :) Another quilting retreat? Awesome! I can't wait to see what you work on!

CitricSugar said... #

Hahaha - that's hilarious!

Also, if there was an award for the most creative non-musical uses of trombones, you would win hands-down. :-)

Cathy O said... #

Loved the rain! It reminded me of some summer days in Minnesota. Terry leaves for "God's Country" Wed July 6 and I on July 11TH. the Lincoln Log project is starting!
When and where is you quilt retreat?
I love Bonnie. My featherweight is more of a Tina! :)

Needled Mom said... #

I heard about your rain up there....amazing! It didn't reach us.

Your keychain stone is such a lovely gift. I can imagine how much you appreciate it.

Have a fabulous time at retreat.

Mary on Lake Pulaski said... #

What a special reminder.
I'm bringing my featherweight too! Can't wait to meet you!
The 90's are supposed be over when you get here in Minnesota, just the high 80's all weekend.