Carmelite House of Prayer

Wanted to share these photo's of the Carmelite House of Prayer in Oakville. Just about 1 1/2 miles from Hwy 29 on the Oakville Grade. We attended the annual fund raiser BBQ Sunday afternoon. It is overlooking the Napa valley. (Airal view by someone else!) It was built as a "summer home" for San Francisco affluent in the early 1900's! It was occupied by others before the Carmelite Priest . (It is a very inspirational place of worship.) The background shows a "lily pond" and to the left the ponds trickle into others w/lilys. It is beautiful and the swimming pool was filled in. Where the silent auction tents are is where the pool was. I would guess at least 500 + attended. It was all organized by volunteers that support the Carmelites. The "ragtime band" provided continous soft background music! My DH attends 1st Saturday Mass there every month. If you are ever in that area "go see", you can't imagine the beauty.

Another Fair!

What a surprise I had when DH and I went to the local fair! Of course we went straight to the main hall where the quilts are on exhibit. The flannel lap quilt "Dancing Leaves" I entered recieved a 2nd place (red) ribbon in its catagory. Wow,I was really pleased! Then as we made our way back to where the individual blocks were displayed I was again "bowled over", a 1st place blue ribbon was attached to the"Contrary Wife" blocks.(see that blog for photo!) Remember, I said in a previous blog, that I only thought it would be fun to have the blocks made into a raffle quilt? Well, $25. comes w/1st place!!! Yippee, looks like 3 yards of fabric to me! I thought you would like to see "Mickey" by another quilter, it is sooo cute! The next day I helped out again at the "Ladies of the Lake" (llqg.org) guild booth selling Oppourtunity Quilt tickets, the same as at the last fair w/ quilt car, brought attention to us and my shift partner and I did have quite a few sales. Now fair duties are ended. Next month is the Falling Leaves Quilt Show the first weekend in Oct. It is "crunch time" I still have some bindings calling me to finish up for entry in the show! Hope you all can come to see the show. There are 250 entrys, some are for sale!

Contrary Wife!!!

This is the final choice I have made for my participation in the local fair "block entry". It is as the title states: Contrary Wife! I love the title. (I am sure at times it describes me!) I found it in my new program. The mail lady finally brought me the fabric just 2 days ago. I have fussed w/this until I think: "What the hay, it is only for fun and I love the colors!" The colors are a raspberry and apple green chosen by the "authorities". I found this fabric on line hoping it will please them! Actually just the participation and knowing that my two entries will be joined w/all the others to make a quilt to be auctioned off is enough satisfaction for me!! (However, the prize $$ would buy a couple yards of fabric!)The block is a little crooked; as the photographer( me) is not a pro!!! I have it on my "sticky wall" and when it sticks....that is it! Here are a few of the Ukiah fair quilt photos, I hope you enjoy them. ;D

A" Little" More About Me

The first 9 years of my life was spent growing up on the military base on Angel Island in the San Francisco Bay! I am the youngest of six children. What great memories of my childhood! My father was a career Army man, he retired from the army after the end of WWII. We were one of the last family's to move from the "island". My Mother , A Russian immigrant who learned to speak English to obtain her U.S. citizenship, never mentioned that one day someone would send a gift to me, by USPS, simply addressed to : "CHRISTMAS TREE Lady" (town),CA. Wow, the postal service always delivers! Potter Valley was my parents choice for retirement after the military and so began my "farming education". We had a few acres and could have a garden, cow and chickens and I loved that place. We moved to Ukiah when I started high school! Many years later I married DH ( God has blessed us with 41 years of married bliss!) DH, then a pear farmer, and also a licensed Pest Control Advisor monitoring other farmers pear orchards. Together we raised our 5 children, and yes I learned to drive a tractor. During frost time when the frost alarm would ring at various times in the early a.m., I would tow DH in his homemade "chariot" holding a flame thrower to light the orchard heaters. When we began pear harvest I drove the tractor w/a bin mover on it, also while sorting pears that were being picked and put in the bins to assure that only quality ones were taken to the pear packing shed of which we were members. As our three son's grew up they relieved me of the tractor job!! With the continual sea of paper work that it takes to operate any farming business I was able to draw on my business courses from both high school and community college.
In the 1970's it became apparent that there was a need to educate and inform the majority of our population about the food and fiber they are dependant upon was being supplied by a minority of the population: the dedicated farmers. I then became a charter member of the local county chapter of California Women for Agriculture, a non partisan organization. We felt the need to speak up for the busy farmers that were attending to their crops and could not leave their fields. Serving as the chapters first V.P and then President was a great privilege and experience. One of the speeches I gave starts out: "FARMERS ARE GAMBLERS IN DISGUISE", (they gamble on their crops, weather, workers and the market place.) That speech always amazed the listeners, as the average consumer never looks at a farmer as a "gambler". (The food is always on the grocery store shelf!) Assisting with local county elementary classroom presentations of "How Pears Grow" was always enjoyable. Our annual yard sales were a huge success and allowed our group to offer scholarships to local college students pursing An Ag related degree. Meeting w/ CWA members from all over the state of California, some who were "urban dwellers", some farm wives all who were as dedicated to preserving and educating the public about agriculture, was also a privilege. We learned from each other and that gave us the ability to speak to the non-agriculture sectors of our populated great state about issues that affected agriculture. Meeting w/our legislators in Sacramento is a plus to tell our story. I have changed my member ship from "very active" to "very supportive" as I now purse other interest that is less stressful. (Quilting!!)
Starting our choose and cut Christmas Tree farm was a huge gamble and departure in 1982, from operating our former pear orchard. I am still the "support" person. It took us several years of research before we "pulled" our 24 acre pear orchard. As in any commercial farming enterprise it is not for the "faint of heart". It is a huge commitment. We are committed to offering the"just right tree" to our customers that return every year. DH and part time helpers do all physical work that goes in to the growing of our trees. As the Thanksgiving turkey roasts in the oven we are busily preparing to open the "farm" the next day. We greet our dedicated customers with a "sincere "Merry Christmas" and we see the growing and expanding of families, keeping their tradition. They always share w/us how their year went and how long they had their tree up. (One year a lady kept hers up until Valentines Day). Over the last 19 years of selling trees, those that came w/their parents are now bringing their children. Many newlywed's come for their first tree. It is a honor when when of them comes w/their first born and says they hope we will be here for their grandchildren. (I do not think so!)