Seven Days to go

It is now seven days before we leave for Australia.  You would never guess it because we have not even pulled out the suitcases............planning is not a top priority - until this evening.  Bill observed that we had better do something soon because our plane leaves next week.  I just hope we are on it!  ha ha ha ha
We have not had much of a winter this year.  Only a small dusting snow shower and the air is very dry.  I have to sleep with a humidifier going otherwise I have difficulty breathing.
One magnificent thing needs to be noted.  The fruit trees and other ornamental trees are in full bloom.  My own two fruit trees, a peach tree and a nectarine tree have very swollen buds and a pin head size burst of pink color on the outer edge of some buds - they will be in full bloom before we leave.  The days are wonderfully warm and the nights cool and we desperately need rain.
Now, the saying goes that March comes in like a lion and leaves like a lamb.  I hope that when it comes in that it does not destroy all the beautiful blossoms that adorn the trees and especially that it does not freeze out my fruit trees - or anyone else's fruit trees for that matter.  As I walk the neighborhoods, the sight of the blossoms is breathtaking.  My  neighbor has a plum tree that last year was loaded with fruit.  Most years it freezes out but last year we had plums galore and our friends cringed when we approached them with a bag of plums - they were already overloaded with previous gifts of the fruit.  This year, if there is a plum for each flower, she will have a bumper crop.  We hope that March leaves like a lamb and the fruit trees remain intact.
We had Community Quilts today and there was a large donation of quilt fabric from someone's estate.  When the bags containing the fabric were tipped out onto the table, the ladies gathered around and began to sort the pieces.  It was joyful and the chatter was fun to listen to. When I told Bill about it he said "It must be like opening and playing in a brand new toy box" and I guess he is correct.  Somehow, we managed sort to color and size and put the new pieces in our boxes of fabrics for use in community quilts.  Last week at the Guild meeting, we had a program by the Lumber Yard Ladies.  They cut their left over fabrics into pieces of 2x4, 4x4, 2x8, and 2x2, and they then use these small pieces to put together quilt blocks that measure 8x8 and then they take these 8x8 blocks and combine them to make quilt tops.  A truly scrappy quilt effect, but the ladies who took the class are all excited for the new process.  One thing that needs to be noted is that not all the blocks come out to an exact 8x8 measurement and this is due to various things like cutting errors, stitching errors and also that some machines do not sew a 1/4 inch seam exactly.  For example, if you begin sewing the blocks on one machine, you cannot go and sew on another machine and expect the blocks from both machines, when combined to make a quilt top, to finish out at the same size - some machines are a scant 1/4inch and others are a generous 1/4 inch.  Ah the fun of doing quilting!  And they talk about needing uniformity in various community endeavors, well, start with the quilting and we may just accomplish something.  How can you sleep under uneven seams?  ha ha ha ha
Our quilt show is coming up and I have completed finishing two sides of my 3600 piece hexagon modified grandmothers flower garden.   It is a King Size quilt. (www.paperpieces.com  and look on 'pictures' and on page 3 or page 4 for my picture with this quilt).  I will be glad when it is finished.
I am very grateful for the work of Dr. Benson.  His series of injections into my left leg have been successful and I can now walk 2 miles per day.  I have not been able to go walking since returning home from Nebraska in July last year.
Sara has sent me a few pictures on the messages portion of my phone.  One of them is baby August being quite vocal.  Another one is of him doing his level best to get to crawling - right now he is developing his upper body strength by hauling himself along with his hands and arms and dragging his wiggling legs behind him.  On facetime, I saw him get up on arms and legs and do a type of (yoga) Downward Dog pose.  I think he will be fully mobile before you know it.
I am not sure how to continue the blog while in Australia because I will only have my Ipad with me but will perhaps keep a written record that can be transcribed when I get home.
but first we have to get to the Apple Store to buy a charger for Australia's electricity.

Getting ready to go......but first we!

I sit here in very dry, warm Arizona - the warmest winter so far and the driest.  the TV is on and the totally nutty Snowboard cross is running.  It appears to be the most insane of all the Olympic events so far. 6 people with their feet strapped to a funny looking piece of equipment  hurtle down the snowy slope filled with terrifying jumps and twists and turns and the winter has moved in on the field with snow falling at the top of the run and rain on the bottom of the run - and they think that this is fun?  And now there are women skiing down the slope on what they describe as terrible conditions.  What sort of death wish do these people have to even think of taking this on.
Our trip to Australia is looming - one of my preparations for this trip has been to put on paper the family narrative to be given to my relatives in Australia.  As far as I know, I am the only one who has taken on the challenge of tracking them down.  The narrative is an outline of the good, the bad and the ugly so to speak.  In a perfect world, the princess is swept off her feet by the handsome prince and carried away on his prancing white steed to live happily ever after.  Reality talks about the move from one country to another - from one culture to a new one and to have to learn a new language into the bargain.  I can identify with all of this.....been there done that.
Our last week in Prescott is in total chaos,  On Monday I have an all day stint in the Community quilts activity for the quilt guild.  Tuesday I have a luncheon with my applique group.  Wednesday is my beading group.   Thursday I have my Pilates class and then 4 hours at the family history center.  Friday is a Family History Center training session.  Saturday we are going to Mesa to attend the temple and on Sunday is the dedicatory sessions for the Gilbert Temple over closed circuit TV to the church.  Monday we leave for Australia.
I am very happy that I have finished the genealogy report - I can now enjoy the last week here.
Now on the TV is some other insanity - the ski snow cross in the half pipe....and I thought that the snowboard half pipe was insane but these people on ski's doing the half pipe staggers my senses.
preparing to leave for Australia but first we...............but first we must to lots of other things in preparation.