OnThe Go!

Boy, Mom and Marla sure didn't stay home much this week! We didn't get much time to sit in their laps! Sunday it started raining hard in the night. There were more showers throughout the day. There was even snow on Superstition Mtns! Mom and Marla had lunch at the Landmark Restaurant. They said it was real yummy. Mom had beef stroganoff and Marla had tenderloin tips with mushrooms and onions. She couldn't eat all of hers. She had her leftovers for supper that night. They brought home a piece of raspberry cheesecake, too. They went to see a play called Miss Abigail's Guide to Dating, Mating and Marriage. Abigail and her helper, Paco were the only 2 people in the play. Paco was the real star. He secretly longed for Miss A as he affectionately called her. She sure quoted a lot of "experts" on the subjects from the 60's. The play also had some audience participation on stage. They were good sports. The play was ok, but Mom and Marla expected it to be much funnier than it was.

Monday it was in the low 40's and mom figured the pool would really be cool, so they slept in. After getting it together, they went on some errands. Mom took Lois' open toe quilting foot to the JoAnn store where they have a Viking dealer. Lois had talked with her, that her foot had broken. The nice lady there said she would replace it for her. Lois sent it to mom. Mom got it replaced for her. Then they went to the Scrapbooking store. Mom had found a store-made jelly roll with some old fashioned prints earlier when out quilt shop hopping with Lois and her friends. Mom wanted another jelly roll-she got a 15% off coupon at the AZ quilt show. There was only one jelly roll left. The rest of the fabrics were now on the 1/2 off table! Mom got enough pieces for 4 different fabrics to make the backs for these 2 quilts. That's what quilting is about-using what you have available. Then they went to lunch at Tia Rosa's. They said it was real yummy. They had margarita's for lunch, too. Marla was really glad mom was driving. Guess she caught a buzz from it! After they watched Days, they went to Cost Cutters so Marla could get her hair cut. She wanted something different, but didn't know what. Mom talked her into getting the back cut shorter. Marla's not too sure about it, but as they say, a bad haircut only lasts 4 weeks. Mom thinks it looks real nice and taught her how to style it the next morning.

Tuesday Mom was chicken to go to the pool-she didn't think the water would be warmed up again yet. They went to breakfast at the patio grill. Then they looked around the Marketplace (vendors come in-last one of the season). Mom bought a red hat and a little wallet for Marla for her birthday. (not til May, but now Mom won't have to wrap it-and Marla can take it home with her and start using them). Then they ran into Larry and Sharon and sat out in the sun chatting for a while. Mom started working on that jelly roll quilt. It took her 1/2 hour to sew all the strips into 1 continuous strip. Then she sewed the beginning of the strip to the end of the strip. That seam took a long time to do. Then she cut that end in half and brought the end of the strip up to the front and started that seam. She did that for 5 times and came up with a 48 X 60 size lap quilt! It took her just over an hour sto sew it together. Somebody in the video on how to make this quilt sewed hers in 35 min. Mom doesn't know how that lady did that! She had fabric to make another. Will be interesting how different they look. Her jelly roll had duplicate fabrics in it. a "real" jelly roll has 42 different fabrics in it. Mom started the grill and made pork chops again. Marla cooked some potatoes and heated up a bag of mixed vegs. They had a really good supper. Then they left us-again. Now they went to see the Duttons http://www.theduttons.com/. It's a family of musicians that have their own theatre in Branson (no the tornadoes didn't do any damage) and then they play in Mesa during the winter months. Mom and Marla had a good time at the show.

Wednesday morning, mom went back to the pool. The water was warm and about 15 ladies were there. After mom got it together, they headed south to Queen Creek to visit the Olive Mill. Mom was there 2 years ago with Murphy. She didn't take the tour, but they did on this trip. It was very interesting. The tour guide did a good job explaining about the growth of the olive trees and how they harvest the olives. Then they process them. Usually mid Oct to early Dec. They learned that Extra Virgin Olive Oil should have on the label first, fresh, or cold pressed olive oil. They had lunch there. Mom bought some tapenades. They were out of strawberry balsamic vinegar. She might have to go back next week, or take Renee there when she comes. Mom made salmon on the grill. Marla warmed up the left over potatoes and veggies. Mom cleaned up, while Marla had to pack.

3:30 AM the alarm went off. Mom dropped off Marla at the airport about 4:15-her flight was at 6:15 or so back to Appleton. Mom set her alarm again for 7. She took care of the garbage and took her swim bag with her to the patio grill. She was so looking forward to having a belgian waffle. NO WAFFLES today. Darn! I guess the kitchen is running low on supplies and not ordering anymore. (they were really out of strawberries-don't know why they still couldn't make waffles). I heard an order come back to the kitchen-I ordered the "special"; you gave me pancakes. The cook looked confused. Then the lady at the window who takes your order and money turned and told him the "special" was french toast today. That's what they get for changing it!

Mom will probably take a nap today.