Water water everywhere

It's been raining a lot the last few days. From Nov 28-Dec 2, Sacramento received 4.74 inches of rain, about 26% of all that can be expected for the entire year. Justin was happy to get two days of overtime working for the City of Sacramento.

This morning the California Marathon happened irregardless of the weather.  Thais and Lenin were part of a 4-person relay team.   Lenin ran leg #2, Thais ran leg #3, both in miserable conditions.  I went to the corner of Garfield and Fair Oaks Blvd, to watch Thais run by and take a picture.  I waited

and waited for a white cap and blue jacket to approach, looking hard as big groups came by,

but I only got soaked and never saw her.  Darn.  So I went to visit with my mom.

 
Lots of flooded roads.  This is 16th St/Raley Blvd, looking north toward Rio Linda.

And later, a very happy Adrienne shows antique doll crib with finished quilt, pillowcase, and mattress cover.

Zoom ... and done!

By 2 pm, I was done!  It's about 24 X 14 inches.

Pillowcase is reversible.

And in between all this, I tried needle-sculpting, my first attempt.  With that in mind, WHO is this supposed to be?  Hint: Dick's family might recognize him.

Uh-oh, his shirt's too tight.

Zoom, zoom ...

Since I was going to be in the E Nic area for a couple of days, I met Adrienne at one of my favorite stores, Joann's Fabrics.  She had an idea for a project  for an antique doll crib so we were looking for fabric.

Then lunch at

Yum!

Back at Justin's, step one: get that fabric washed and dried. 

By the end of the evening, I'd finished the mattress cover, a pillowcase,

all the 2-inch squares were cut.

In San Francisco

We just spent several wonderful days in San Francisco with Greg and Nicole.

Both Greg and Nicole had to work 10-12 hour shifts at work so got to do some cooking. Roast turkey, sausage/giblet stuffing, and orange-walnut cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving; pumpkin pie donated by Carolyn. Then a short parade of leftover dishes: turket pot pie and turkey chilaquiles; and a pumpkin cheesecake complete with a burnt crust which didn't hinder consumption at all.

One afternoon, as I was working in the kitchen, Dick called out, "Arlete, I'm stuck in a hole and I can't get out."  He'd sunk between the cushions.

Motto on sleeve of Greg's jacket "Oro en paz, fierro in guerra" means "gold in peace, iron in war."

Thank you, Greg and Nicole, for your warm hospitality and sharing your home with us.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

I spotted this little squirrel in a tree at El Camino Gardens where Mom lives.  He was enjoying his food so much, he didn't mind me getting close.

Quick dash to E Nic

Monday.  It was time to go get the car from Justin's house, which meant a day filled with public transportation. CalTrain, Palo Alto:

Amtrak, San Jose station:

Regional Transit, Sacramento = 2 "trolleys" and 1 bus

A therapeutic evening of cracking walnuts. My work station in the garage:

 

Tuesday.  Lunch with Thais at Orphan - if in Sacramento, eat at Orpha, sooo good.

Fall colors in front of LPA where Thais works.

A visit with Mom.  I told her about Dick's surgery.  She said, "Well, that was uncalled for."  Later she asked if Dick was following the doctor's instructions.  Not always.  She raised her hand and shook her finger, "You tell him to listen, or his mother-in-law is going to have a talk with him.  And that would be horrible."

OK, Dick, you've been warned.

First days in Palo Alto

Brrr! Arriving in flip flops and T-shirts doesn't work at this time of year in Northern California.

After a full day of rest, we went for our first walk ... after socks were borrowed and shoes purchased.