Remembering one of my favorites.

I'm one of those people who cannot identify any of the young actors today.....they all have odd names, and they all look alike!

I much prefer the old movies, and old tv shows.....and all the actors that had class, and could actually act!

My hubby just told me that Peter Falk passed away.

He was truly one of my favorite actors.  I loved everything he was in.  He had such an amazing talent!

I have dozens of his Columbo tv series on dvd, and that's what I pop in when I'm quilting.....I've watched them all 100's and 100's of times, I know every line......so I can just hear it while I'm sewing away, and look up every now and then, when I know his sneaky little 'I'm playing the dumb cop' gag is about to come on.  I love that!  I still giggle when he does it.....and I've seen it so many times!

I love that he had so much class.....he had a hit series, and he was such a friend to so many of his fellow actors, ones that were aging, or not acting much....he would give them guest parts on his show.....some of them over and over again!  (Angela Lansbury would do the same thing on her Murder, She Wrote series.....I love her, too!  Again.....total class!)

I always get so much pleasure watching his movies and shows......he was one of a kind!

I read that he had dementia and Alzheimer's toward the end.  He was 83.

Home Sweet Home!

We arrived back from our vacation on Monday......we drove a total of 1,968 miles!  And my hubby stayed awake and kept me company the entire drive!  I love him!

Let me just say that I am the worst picture taker ever!  And the whole vacation I kept thinking I was getting really great shots!  Sheesh!  Out of 80+ pics, I have just a handful that are not blurry!  I'm really hoping that the other people that were clicking away will email me some of their shots!  I don't have a single one of our grandson at his graduation!  I barely have any from Colonial Williamsburg, none from Kitty Hawk, a few from DC, and nothing at Maureen's (although, those two her son took.....so it's really not just me!  HA!)

Our first day in North Carolina was hot hot hot!  We had just come from Maine, where it was in the low 60's!    And what did we do in that heat.....headed for an outdoor festival!  Crazy!  But it was fun, and it was on the harbor, so there was a slight breeze (very slight!).

We had a ball at Colonial Williamsburg.....none of us had ever been!  I had expected it to be a little corny, with the actors getting way too 'into' their roles......but that was not the case!  It was really done well, and all the 'in period' people were amazing!  They really knew what they were talking about, and were actually 'doing' what their profession was.  We watched the shoemaker for a good half hour.....and he was actually amazed at how into it I was.  But heres the thing......the amazing thing......he split a boar's hair to use as a needle to sew the leather......a real boar's hair!  Not any bigger than a cat's whisker.  And I watched him split the hair down, then shave off the end of a strand of flax for the thread.....take this ultra fine thread of flax and splice it onto this boar's hair.....cuz there is no eye on a boar's hair needle!  You have to splice the flax thread onto it so there's no bump when pulling it through either!  Ok......if you aren't amazed by this.....then I'm not explaining right!......Because it was AMAZING!   AND.....the whole time he's doing this.....he's talking away, in period mind you, and giving all sorts of info and little tidbits!  WOW!  I was thoroughly impressed with this guy, and the whole day was just as impressive!  The wig maker lady was making wigs, and talking away about all sorts of fun stuff, as was the basket maker, paper maker, printing press guys.....everyone!  They were all so good!  Then we went to the Courthouse building, and the woman there gave the most amazing tour.....complete with history lesson, and doing 'in period' and about that day's date back then.....fabulous!  I would go back in a minute!

Of course, my only picture is of a gigantic magnolia tree (at least 80' tall) blossom on the grounds.  These magnolias are all over the place in this region......and they look so much different to the magnolias I'm familiar with.  Gorgeous!

I also got a couple of pics of the quilts that were in the Museum there.  Gorgeous quilts, but the lighting was so dark, it was really hard to get pics.

Here's a pic of something I'll never see in Maine.....blechk!

People actually order that!?!  I just can't imagine!

We also went to Kitty Hawk and I got to fly my kite on Kill Devil Hill, where the Wright Brothers first flew!  So cool!  Do I have any pics?......no.  Our son got some, and I'm hoping he will email me one!

Then we went to DC and had a great time!  I got to spend the first day meeting a blogging friend, Maureen from Pursuit of Quilts.  She is just as wonderful as her blog!  And her quilts are to die for!  I got to see so many beautiful quilts and her current projects, and her sewing room.  She made a lovely lunch, and then we popped on over to the local quilt shop, and I bought a pair of Machingers gloves for free-motion quilting.    We exchanged some canned goods that we've put up.....I had made salsa and sweet pickle relish, and she presented me with her homemade tomato sauce and a copy of the Ball Canning Recipes Book.  Sweet!  Thank you so much, Maureen.....I had such a great time!

While in DC, we also went to the Smithsonian, and several of the monuments.  The reflecting pool is under renovation.....it was so odd to see it like that!

I didn't take any pics in the different museums.....to busy seeing all the amazing art.....but I did get a pic of this really unusual plant along one of the walkways......I've never seen it before; the blossoms create a kind of tower with 4 sides.....just like the Washington Monument, come to think of it......and then these wispy, feathery petal pop out here and there.  Does anyone know what this is?

When we got home, I was so happy to see that I hadn't missed my peonies blooming.....almost, but there was one bloom still at prime time!

And my Sum and Substance Hosta had totally popped out while we were gone.....it's about 5 feet across!

And the iris were in full bloom......yay!

We love to go on vacation, but we definitely love returning home again!

Have a wonderful day!

regan

Shopping!!! Woohoo!!!

Well, the guys had their golf weekend, and managed to get in 101 holes!  It's a lot, considering we had a gorgeous weekend, and the course was full the whole time!  They had a great time, and so did the girls!  lol

Kimberly (my DIL) said on Thursday night....."Don't you have a casino around here somewhere?".......Yes we do!  So we immediately made plans to head out on Friday morning (right after the guys left for golf), and planned to spend the night up in Bangor (where the casino is), and shop the inland route on the way there, and the coastal route on the return on Saturday.  Oh boy....did we shop!  And only at antique shops, thrift stores, flea markets and garage sales!  Yippee!  Bargains galore!

We hit a wholesale jewelry shop and just look at the haul I took!

Six necklaces and 7 headbands.....under $50!  Whoohoo!

We went to a thrift store......

and the gal said everything was 1/2 off.......this set was marked $14......Yay!  Can you believe it.....$7....and not a chip or mark on them!

We had tons of fun at the casino.....I didn't win anything, but that's ok......it's entertainment value that I'm paying for, right!?!

Headed out Saturday morning, and found a little shop with this sweet organza apron in it!  $6!  Woohoo!  And it's perfect.....never used!

When I redo my kitchen, this will be on display somewhere.....can't wait!

Found a great little yard sale.....and these 3 little pieces.  I think they are going to be so sweet in a window with flowers in them.  And the 3 together were $1.60 total!  Yay!

Then we found this cute little antique shop on the road.....didn't look like much.....we almost didn't stop.....but figured, why not!  Oh......I'm so glad we did.  For about 15 years now, I'm been wanting to make a collection of the 'yardlong' photos......I just love them!  I have 2 that are military companies from WWI......but in the last 7 or 8 years.....you can't touch 'em.  They have totally gone out of price range for me......usually upwards of $150 or more, and they don't even have to be in great condition at that price, either!  Dang!  So, I've kindof put them out of my mind, and haven't really pursued them.  WELL.......this shop had 2 of them, and I took 'em both!

The shorter one, approximately 2 feet long, was $20!  The longer one, almost 4 feet long, was $40!  SQUEALING IN DELIGHT!  I played it very cool, and was happy to get them while in the shop.  Of course, when I got inside the car.....I told Kimberly......"Oh my god.....I'm shaking, I can't believe what a deal these were......I can't stop shaking!  I'm so happy!"   And 20 minutes later, I was still shaking!

Ok......you're probably saying "What?  These are something special?  Really?"......but yeah, they are!  Really! Just look at the faces on these folks!

There's a really happy fellow 6th from the left, top row!  Sweet!  And what a sly devil 3rd from the right on the bottom row.....I just love these!

And check out the bad hair day on the gal in this one.....

You know the gal I'm talking about!  lol

Anyway.....we had a great time shopping, and eating......I took a pic of Kimberly's stuffed lobster at the restaurant on the way down Saturday, but it was way to blurry to post.  But it was beautiful!  And no, I didn't have lobster.....I live here.....and if I was caught paying those tourist prices for lobster.....well, they just might kick me out of the state!  lol

I had a crab roll instead!  yum!

And Cliff and Kimberly are back in CA now.....and we are getting ready for our trip to VA.  We leave on Friday!  Yikes!  I have so much to do!

One last thought......if you go to Suebee Sew's blog, she is having a great giveaway.  It's one of Bonnie Hunter's books!  Sweet!  We love Bonnie!  Sue is having the giveaway, cuz she made the 200 follower mark!  Yay, Sue!  And check out her awesome quilts she's made while you're there......she does beautiful work!

Hoping you are having a great day!

regan  :o)

Finished and Delivered!

I finished up the wall hanging for Betty this morning!  I wrapped it all up and took it over to the town office where she works.  Did I remember to get a pic before I wrapped it......no!  Sheesh!  So here's a pic with Betty!

 

When the wall hanging is against the wall, the seams won't show.....there was lots of light behind it in the pic!

Now I'm off to clean up the house, cuz our oldest son, Cliff and DIL Kimberly are arriving here tomorrow morning from CA.  For the past 10 years, my husband John has been doing this 'crazy golf' weekend with his friend Gil from MA.  And 4 years ago, they invited the sons to join them.  It's Friday mid-morning to Sunday mid-afternoon.....and all the golf they can get in!  They stay at the Poland Spring Resort, which is only about 45 minutes from us.....it's beautiful and the course is fabulous!  Each year they try and top the last year's total number of holes......last year was 108, and only because it was pouring rain for most of the weekend!  Their top total was 121 two years ago!  Sheesh!  My arms hurt just thinking about it!  We've been having unusually hot hot hot weather these last few days......in the 80's and humid......so we'll see what happens to the record number of holes!

So, while the guys kill themselves on the golfcourse, Kimberly and I are going to have fun shopping, eating, and seeing movies (have you seen 'Bridemaids' yet.....it's a riot!  Go with several girlfriends.....you'll all be laughing hysterically the whole time!).

Ok.....the vacuuming isn't going to magically happen!  Gotta go!

Have a great day!

regan  :o)