Getting Ready!

 Yesterday was my birthday and while I was out Allison, Rob and girls dropped off some cards and my birthday present: a 12 pack of diet coke (what else could it be).  The card above is from Livi and Allison challenged me to figure out what it meant.  I assumed a birthday candle - wrong.  Livi told her mom it was a quilting pin because whenever she comes over to Grandma's house, that is what she finds on the floor. Totally unkind and untrue (?)

Marching To Government House

There was another march today, which came down from Petchaburi Rd into Asoke, along Sukhumvit and on to Government House.  I caught up with it between Nana and Asoke, capturing most of these photos at the top of my road. 

Tis The Season:

 The Christmas Season is here and with just a week to go, I am finally getting into the spirit of things.  Last night, following Ana's Christmas recital program we drove to the local park to take pictures.   I wanted to roll down the window, but Roger insisted that I actually do the work of getting out of the car and into the cold. 

Pretty Polly

One of the things I love about Bangkok is the street theatre - there is always something going on.  Yesterday when I went to pay for my bread, I realised that there was a parrot in the queue ahead of me!   The owner spoke some English so told me about his pet, whose translated name means good luck.

Unlike the multi-lingual cockatoo that lives on out street with his English owner, this parrot has had its wings clipped so he will not fly away.  Rocky on the other hand, has a long chain secured to his leg.  His owner takes him to the park to fly and at home he lives on the balcony, secured there but still able to fly around to the length of his chain.  

I'm glad I don't have to wash those tee-shirts!

Our First Big Storm:

The U.S. is experiencing all the joys of winter early this year.  The northeast is seeing massive snow storms and my favorite of all, "ice storms", which we experienced both in New York and Texas.  Airports have seen delays or closures and there is more to come.  Often what starts here in the west sweeps across the central states and causes major problems in the highly populated areas back east. 

I think I am just repeating the same photos I posted last year at this time, but it is Winter once again - coming all too soon for my liking.  While Roger shovels the 13" plus off our driveway, I stay inside finishing up my quilt projects.  I don't think Roger considers that quite a fair exchange, but....

Yellow Shirt Rally

The Yellow Shirts held a rally over at Terminal 21 mall yesterday (how Thai - a bit of demonstrating AND a bit of shopping!).  

WHAT'S NEW IN BKK

Walking on the walkway back from Central World, our attention was drawn to a crowd looking over the bridge into the big police compound.  The gates were closed, barbed wire strung along the front and when we first got there, rows and rows of what looked like riot police armed with truncheons were on show.  By the time I took the photo, most had dispersed.  I'm not sure if this is a practice or to do with a few demonstrations that were supposed to take place this weekend.

Out & About in BKK This Weekend

Your ace reporter has been out and about in BKK this weekend.  First to report, I have some new glasses.  No not these ones, but they were just too funky not to model. I like them, they make me look like a fat fly!

Last Posting From Houston:

 OK, I know I said that I was a good girl and didn't take photos of anything marked off limits.   Well, I really assumed that that meant up close and personal, right?  Panning from a fair distance doesn't count, does it?  There were so many wonderful Japanese panels displayed that I really couldn't help myself.  I had admired this type of textile work in Tokyo and was delighted to see it here as well.

Houston: Some More

Kim wanted a few more photos of the amazing quilts I saw, so here goes.  The above was so well done but also made me laugh.  The title reads "Does it make my butt look big?"  I know the feeling!  Below is a close up of the winning quilt where you can see all of the applique work done to give her the look she wanted.  Again, absolutely amazing workmanship!

Houston International Quilt Show:

 Look at this amazing quilt that took first prize at Houston.  It was created by Melissa Sobota who has been quilting for all of six years.   I found myself drawn to it on more than one occasion attempting to analyze it and in the end just being mesmerized by it.  The quilt was made using a photo taken of a Chilhuly glass exhibit as a reference  and is called "Art Reflecting Art".  It is all fabric applique with no thread or fabric painting.  Absolutely deserving of the $10,000 Grand Prize.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from the Teas!  The second witch is behind the camera.

UK Storm

My uncle's neighbours had a lucky escape during the storm that hit the UK yesterday, when a tree outside their house fell down.

 Why are they smiling?

Bangkok Farmers Market

Bangkok Farmers Market has been going for a while now.  It is based at K Village, behind Big C on Rama IV.

Kim's Got Me Beat, But.....

 OK, I must admit that I haven't seen any outdoor Christmas displays going up around town, but by the looks of Target (above), Home Depot and JoAnn's, (below) Christmas is right around the corner - like next week!

Christmas Comes Early To Bangkok

Good grief, is it that time already?  The Christmas tree is being constructed outside Central World this week.  I also spotted several Christmas tree cardboard cutouts as display items in there.  Yikes, best get shopping!  I have to admit to hearing a Christmas song a few weeks ago, but as it was at one of those concession stands in Emporium, where they sell ghastly musac, I assumed that they just didn't realise that it was Christmas music (er musac), but now I am not so sure.  Happy Long-Draw-Out Holidays!!!

Another This and That Post:

 As you all know by now, we live in the foothills north of SL overlooking  Antelope Island and the Great Lake.  While I have gotten used to the amazing sunsets we get here (below), one morning I got up to see the moonset, above.  It was a full moon, huge and so amazing hanging over the island that I had to run and get my Coolpix from my purse.  I was able to get a few shots before it vanished behind the island. 

Finally, back to Quilting

 

 While I seem to be quilting all the time, little seems to be getting finished.  I completed a couple of baby quilts that went off to the up coming Festival of Trees for a local children's hospital charity, but very little else.  I did, however, just finish the piece above (last night) and am working on the hexagon quilt below.  Kim I really am doing my quilting and now that I am finished making 300 paper covered books for my quilt group next year, I am back to the machine.



The top one was really fun to do.  It measures 14 1/2 by 17 inches.  I used English paper piecing for the hexagons using left over Japanese fabric from another project I need to quilt (!) and tacked it to a quilt sandwich I machine quilted a grid on.  It worked out pretty much as I had hoped.  The one on the right is a work in progress, but my thinking is that it will look wonderful on a little girl's twin bed.  Now I just have to figure out which little girl.  I have a feeling that there will be three more in my future.

Brighton Ski Resort

 

 From these photos you wouldn't suspect that the ski season is right around the corner, but winter is on it's way.  We have a number of fantastic ski resorts up the canyons from Salt Lake City and Roger's favorite one is Brighton at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon. 

Home Leave to the UK & France

So, this is our new house, shown from the lake.   

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Today, August 26th, is our 42 wedding anniversary.  I've know this guy since I was 15 and we took our one and only high school class together at West High in Salt Lake City.  He turned out to be my best friend and the love of my life.  More ups than downs along the way.  Four amazing kids and five wonderful grandchildren later, I couldn't have asked for a better time.  As the saying goes - Grow old with me, the best is yet to be!
Love ya, Janice

Bonneville Speed Week:

The Bonneville Salt Flats is a densely-packed salt pan in Tooele County in northwestern Utah.  The area is a remnant of the Pleistocene Lake Bonneville and is the largest of many salt flats located west of the Great Salt Lake.  Geologist Grove Karl Gilbert named the area after Benjamin Bonneville, a U.S. Army officer who explored the Intermountain West in the l830s.

In l907 Bill Rishel and two local businessmen tested the suitability of the salt for driving on by taking a Pierce-Arrow onto the flats.  A railway line across the Bonneville Salt Flats was completed in l910, marking the first permanent crossing.  The first land speed record was set there in l914 by Teddy Tetzlaff.

Ever since the setting of that first speed record, the Salt Flats have played host to hundreds of drivers each year willing to test their cars, motorcycles or trucks against a time clock in the quest for the elusive world speed record.  There are five major land speed events that take place each year, the first one being the Bonneville Speed Week which takes place during the month of August.

 This year, Roger, Rob, Daniel and Ethan took a day off from retirement, work and play to take in the races and view the race cars up close.

 It was a hit with all the "men".  Ethan, below, has decided that next year they will arrive earlier and camp over so they won't miss a single race or opportunity to visit the drivers in the pits.  Bringing bicycles was also mentioned as a means to travel quickly from one pit to the next.  I think we have a new annual "Tea" event on our hands.

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon:

It had been twelve years since Roger and I had visited the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.  A lot has happened during those twelve years, but luckily for us not much has changed on the rim and memories flooded back immediately as we drove down the road to the lodge, above.  The north rim is not as developed as the south and the Grand Canyon Lodge is the dominate fixture surrounded by scores of small wooden cabins.  A camp ground further down the road with a general store completes what is available for the wandering tourist.  The lodge was constructed in 1928 for the Union Pacific Railroad.  The original one burned down in 1932 and was rebuilt in l937.

Views of the Grand Canyon are seen from walkways and terraces surrounding the lodge.  Huge windows facing the canyon allow you to sit in the main hallway or enjoy a meal in the dining room while taking in the majesty of the Grand Canyon.

T'is The Season:

 Racquel (aka: Pokie), age four and our youngest grandchild has started playing soccer this year,  Grace told us that she had missed the deadline for getting all three kids on teams, so in her desperation she promised, via phone message, that she would coach.  Well be careful what you ask "beg" for.  Grace is now the coach for Ingrid and Ethan's team which plays on Tuesday night and Racquel is on the mismatched jersey team of pickup players.   It doesn't matter how, why, or if the jerseys don't quite match, Racquel had a ball and showed that she has learned a lot from her older siblings. 

2nd Annual Tea Family Cabin Reunion:

 We held our second annual Tea family reunion (even though we see each other plenty throughout the year) at the cabin last weekend.  Everyone was able to come and relax, though the grandkids kept grandpa busy with requests (demands) for rides on the four wheeler at every turn.  Now you might think we had lived in Thailand too long given the above photo, but no, that was just for a photo op.  Only two besides Grandpa and each with their helmet were the rules.  All of them were anxious to show off their skill at driving unaided down the dirt road.  Thank goodness Roger has good reflexes!!

Maeklong market, Amphawa floating market & Wat Baan Kung

For some time I have wanted to visit the famous Maeklong market in Samut Songkram, which is about 40 miles outside of Bangkok.

The market is famous because it has spread over the railway tracks, just by the station.  If you look closely at the photo you can see that the goods are right up to the tracks, the stall's awnings cover the track area and the customers walk along the tracks.

Alaska, The Inside Passage

 

 Our cruise followed the Inside Passage of Alaska which is a network of waterway passages which weave through the islands of the southeast panhandle of  Alaska, British Columba and Northwest Washington State.   Juneau was our first stop along our cruise.  As you can see it was overcast while we were here, though the temperatures remained in the 50's and comfortable with jackets.  Juneau is the capital of Alaska and has about 32,000 residents.  We didn't get into the city proper to tour, but did make it through the gauntlet of jewelry and souvenir stores set along the road leading from the pier.

North to Alaska: Part One - The Cruise Ship

 Roger and I had never been on a cruise before.  We had heard about them, of course, a lot, but the desire to go on one had never really been there.  I guess it's retirement? Who knows. But we thought going to Alaska (something else we hadn't done yet) would be a good test of our endurance and an opportunity to see some amazing sights - as well as eat a lot of food!

Samchuk Market

Wonderful Boonchi has been taking me out and about this week and yesterday's outing was with Sue and Pat to Samchuk Market (also known as the 100 year market) in Suphanburi.

Take Some Garlic, Olive Oil & Garlic...

If you are a garlic and feta cheese lover, this is the post for you!  

Free Esprit Perfume!!!

There is nothing sweeter in life than something that is free.  Unless the free thing is perfume!  

In Bangkok, never buy perfume, aftershave (for my husband of course) or other such things from a department store, without asking for the free stuff.  The won't hand it out willingly, or offer it up as part of the deal, you have to be firm and demand a present.  

Sometimes it isn't really a great gift (sorry Margie, I did my best) but it is still better than nothing.  In my time I have had a matching cup and saucer (I have no idea why, but it obviously made sense to them), sample sized perfumes and for Alan's birthday gift this year, managed to get the matching deodorant to his aftershave for free.   

A few months ago I learnt that it is best NOT to get Alan to do the asking, as when he bought me some perfume, he came back with a couple of mean little samples, not at all what I had in mind, despite my coaching him!

This week, Baz asked me to buy some perfume for a friend (sob, not me!) and as usual I asked for my 'something extra'.  I got the usual, 'well if you buy the extra large, die before you ever manage to use it all up size, I might just see my way to giving you a little something' spiel.  Nah, your girl has made you proud.  He looked at me and saw it written in my eyes, 'GIVE ME THE FREE STUFF AND MAKE IT GOOOOOD!'.  (Er, you have to say that in one of those CNN pandemic alert voices to get the full effect).  Well what do you know, out popped a small bottle of perfume!

Fire on the Mountain:

 We knew it would happen eventually.  Every summer we have at least a couple of local fires on the foothills along our stretch of the freeway  and with this summer being especially hot and dry I guess I am surprised it took this long to happen.  This photo is looking north from our home and the fire is serving as a backdrop to the home two houses down and across the street from ours.  Our son-in-law woke us up with a phone call around 12:30 to let us know that there was a fire.  Heading out the front door I didn't see anything immediately, and then, smoke, fire, there it was.  We knew it wasn't nearly as bad as it looked and with no wind to change the normal inclination of fires to head up the hill rather than down, we took out our lawn chairs to watch.  I was, after all, concerned enough NOT to go back to bed before I knew it was completely out.   Some of our neighbors took the concern a notch higher and began to fill their cars with valuables in case they needed to make a fast exit.

Celebrating the 4th of July in Jackson Hole, Wyoming:

 Allison and family invited us to celebrate the 4th of July in Jackson, Wyoming this year and as it is one of our favorite places to visit we circled the dates on the calendar, rented our room and without too much additional planning were on our way.  Jackson is situated at the base of Grand Teton National Park and just about an hours drive south of Yellowstone National Park.  Roger and I have both visited the area as children, honeymooned there, sent our children (Evan and Allison) off to work there, and over the years claimed it as our own to hike, canoe, camp and yes, shop, in.  We love Jackson and the national parks close by.

The Magic Ruler:

 I am a blog stalker, and proud of it!!  During one of my stalking sessions, I saw the quilt below and thought it made a darling baby quilt.  I had received some fabric from my quilt group to make quilts for sale this December at the annual Festival of Trees and thought that this one would be a good choice.  Festival of Trees is a great charity which contributes all proceeds (I really hope it's all) from the sale of donated decorated Christmas trees as well as donated items in it's gift store to Primary Children's Medical Center here in SL.  The hospital is non profit and provides important and life saving  services to children throughout the intermountain region.

Summer Solstice:

We have just passed from Spring to Summer, celebrating the Summer Solstice on June 21st.  Sadly, we weren't able to make it to Stonehenge this summer (and no, we've never been there, though it is on our bucket list), but I was able to get a great shot of the full Strawberry Moon from our front doorstep.  The name comes from the Algonquin tribes of North America who saw it as a signal to gather ripening fruit.

A Perfectly Lazy Summer:

 While Roger and I have planned a number of great vacations (holidays for you Brits) and short road trips this summer , all of the "in between" time is spent around family, cabin and, yes, quilting.

Our home is a great destination spot for our five grandchildren and we often meet them at the park across the street from us, in the back yard for trampoline time or for the most part on the front drive way with the grandkids turning it into a canvas for their chalk and water art.  We adults pull up our lawn chairs, grab our beverage of choice, gossip, solve the world's problems and simply enjoy an amazing Utah evening.

Museum of Human Body

Okay, everyone knows I like weird things, so it shouldn't be a surprise that the woman who lists The Monsters Inside Me as one of her favourite television programmes, should go to this museum.  Oh in case you are wondering, yes this is a real human head!

Siem Reap

We were greeted in our hotel room by this message written in leaves on our bed, which was further decorated with flowers.  I don't know why they put that strange man on the bed, I was hoping for Brad Pitt!

What's new in Bangkok

Taken from the platform at Siam BTS

As usual there is a ton of building work going on in Bangkok and here are a few projects that are new to you.  This building site is opposite Paragon, where the cinema was burned down during the troubles.  I don't know yet what this is going to be, but I would put money on a shopping mall given the location.  It is obviously going to be higher than the building that used to be there.

Roger's Father's Day Gift:

 Here is the newest member of our family.  My Featherweight Singer Sewing Machine.  It's a lot more than just cute.  It runs beautifully and will be used to piece quilts requiring "Y" points, though looking at the little booklet that came with it, it does a lot more than a straight stitch.  Mostly, I've got to admit - it's really just plain cute.

What I Did on Memorial Day:

 What happens when you combine five, age eight and under, grandchildren with an adult sized croquet set and minimal instructions?  Oh, yes, and add a playing field that practically looks over the edge.  You get a great evening of entertainment!

Bangkok Brunch

It is generally well known that brunches bring out the very worst in people.  I found this out when I was brunching a few weeks ago with some friends.  Margie and I sat with our plates containing a couple of lettuce leaves, some grated carrot and a sliver of boiled chicken.  We of course, passed on dessert.

However Sue had no such restraint.  Just how much dessert can any one person eat?  Clearly a lot!  Honestly, I was just so embarrassed.

But at least she was willing to let us taste some of her bounty.  Well, she offered up a half-eaten macaroon, that fell on the floor as she was eating it.  She picked it up, dusted it off and offered it to Margie, who sadly had been looking the other way at the time.  She popped it into her mouth and commented on how lovely and 'fluffy' it was.

Anyway, under the circumstances, Sue was graciousness personified.  But this man...