My adventure all alone

I am a mom...and a grandma....and the youngest kid in my sibling family....and I am never alone! Most of the time, this does not bother me. I do not like big crowds, but hanging out with those I love is usually a treat.

Until this week....I needed a break. I tried to get daughter V to go see the movie "The Secret Life of Bees" with me-I liked the book. She didn't want to go, so I figured I would just wait until it comes out on DVD and rent it. So, I found my self alone on a Wednesday....what to do? First I went to my local Ben Franklin's with their 40% off coupon. I have been wanting to decorate my kitchen in reds and yellows with a honeybee and bee hive theme. Of course I haven't found anything I like...everything bee related has a bear too. I found a display of a stitchery kit for Utah with a beehive and other symbols I like. The store is out of kits! Okay, so next, I decide I am hungry......

....so I go to a restaurant called Souper! Salad! I had hear it was pretty good. No, it wasn't. A long salad bar with about 10 things you could put on your lettuce, some cut up fruit, about 3 types of bread to choose from....that's it. I have that kind of stuff at home! I do like to people watch, so I found it interesting to sit and wonder what some of my fellow luncheoners were really like. There were multi older couples who sat and ate, but didn't speak to one another. There were two ladies that were easily my age (mid 40's) who were dressed like high schoolers....not a good look. There were four ladies celebrating one of their birthdays (they had balloons) that sounded like they were having a fantastic time. Oh well.....next, onto JoAnn's fabric with....

....my fist full of coupons. I need thin batting and a couple yards of white ribbon for a couple of Christmas gifts. The problem....I can't get to the store....construction! I know it is an old joke about Utah being the land of orange traffic cones and construction signs, but I am beginning to think it isn't a joke. I give up!

I have realized the last few months that I am not completely happy with where I am in my life. I have a couple of close friends, but one lives far away (we haven't seen each other face-to-face in 18 years) and the other has her house up for sale. I need to be more social and develop some friendships closer to home. I think I am a pretty good person and I use to social at one time in my life.

In Closing: I have been told that we develop relationships usually for one of three reasons-(1)for a reason, (2)for a season or (3)for forever....what do you think?

Wonderful Weekend

I had a great Saturday of lots of activities with my Hubby...I love Summer!

We started by dropping off two quilts to our City Quilt show Saturday morning. This is the first year they have done a quilt/handicraft show as part of our city days. I put in my Devils Gate (Wyoming) block pictured above, plus another landscape quilt of a Lighthouse (I don't have a photo of) The group doing doing the quilt show had never done a show before and had planned to drape the quilts over boxes and on the floor. I suggested most quilters would prefer to have them off the floor. They put up long tables in rows, with metal chairs on top of the table, then draped the quilts over the chairs. The quilts were are eye level and not on the floor.
Next we drove to Logan, where my Hubby's cousins (his mom's side) were having a picnic reunion. We had some great salads, played Phase 10(card game) and visited alot. We had the picnic in Willow Park, which is a very nice area of shade trees right next to the Zoo.

Next, we went to downtown Logan. Above is a photo of the Tabernacle on Main Street. It has been beautifully restored inside...the community holds concerts and other functions inside. It turned out Logan was having a city festival of their own, along with a huge sidewalk sale on Main street. Oh, how I wish I had brought more money!

I went to Red Roosters Quilt shop. They have been in business for about 5 years, with about 1 year at their Main Street location. With the sidewalk sale, everything was at least 20% off. I am doing my guilds 100-9 patch quilt in the Fall in muslin and reds...and did I find reds! I bought 10 FQ's ($1 each), plus scrap rolls that were 4-5 inches wide (50 cent each)...best $18 dollars I have spent in a long time. I need 3.5 inch squares for the 9-patch, so the 4-5 inch scrap rolls will work great.

Right next door to the Red Rooster is the Bluebird. It is a old fashioned ice cream parlor, with a lunch/dinner service, and a homemade candy counter. My parents use to meet there for ice cream in the 1940's when my dad was doing his military training in Logan. I planned to go in and get some candies, but they were having a private party and were not open....sad!
Lastly, we stopped at Far West at Smith and Edwards. If you are in the area, and have some pocket change and a couple hours to kill, you should stop by S n E. It is one of those stores you just have to experience at least once. It's a cowboy, grocery, hardware, military surplus, odd leftover kind of place. Saturday is the worst crowded time to go, so if you don't like crowds, pick another day. Our purchases...lemon candies (5 cents each), jerky rope (my hubby), small containers for sewing supplies (12 for $1.98), 400 q-tips(99 cents)and metal cooking tongs ($1.49). We looked at the army surplus clothing, but nothing looked great. Hubby looked in the camping/hunting/fishing section, but again couldn't justify purchasing anything.

We are now going to spend a nice quiet Sabbath laying around, reading, blogging then going to Church. I love Sundays!

In Closing:Favorite Summer activities.... Mine-gardening, farmers markets, reading, picnics, hikes, family reunions, festivals/fairs/city celebrations, watermelon and other seasonal fruit, canning(yes, I really do like canning!) and being with my family....what's yours?