snook haven

One of our adventures when my sister-in-law was visiting was a boat tour on the Myakka River. We ventured up to Snook Haven which felt like turning back time to "old time Florida".

"Snook Haven visitors can explore the Myakka River and its diverse environment on a 30-passenger tour boat that departs from Snook Haven three times a day, rent a canoe or kayak and experience the river on a more personal level or dine in our shoreline dining room overlooking the unspoiled Myakka."

Perhaps we'll take our next visitors {Prestons} there as well.

We are looking for more adventures in and around
the Venice/Sarasota/Englewood area.
Any suggestions?

baby quilt

I have been visiting a quilting club during our visit in Florida. This lovely group of ladies has helped me make my first quilt. Not perfect this time but I have learned a few tricks along the way and am ready to try the next one.

arranging the squares/blocks



adding the sashing and a border



a colorful backing



a sunny place to sew



finished and ready to go



I am thinking maybe a Christmas gift . . .
since our grandson will be back from Cambodia by December.
He certainly wouldn't need it there where they have just two seasons
"hot and hotter"

{For those of you that I have made market bags for,
you may see scraps from your fabric in this quilt}

finger plays

When baby Cedar was visiting at Christmas
I tried to teach him . . .
"How big is the baby?
Sooo big!"



Now that he is back in Cambodia he has mastered it.

love me or leave me

During our visit to Florida I have been
jazzercising with a lovely group of ladies.



One of the new songs {that I love} is
"Love Me or Leave Me"
from a 1955 Doris Day movie.

The version we dance to is now sung by Rod Stewart.



Now how fun is that?

what should you read next

I recently found a website that suggests books for you
to read based on the last book that you read and enjoyed.



whatshouldireadnext.com

I am currently reading:
The Florabama Ladies' Auxiliary & Sewing Circle by Lois Battle

Search results for this book:
"Sorry, there were no results - this is probably because your
search edition doesn't appear in many users' booklists."



Go figure!

downton abbey

How have I miss this intriguing show for 2 seasons?!
We discovered it just two episodes short of the season 2 finale.
Now I will be searching for a way to catch up.



The Primetime Emmy® Award winning series from Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park) returns to Masterpiece classic in 2012! Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern and Dan Stevens headline the remarkable cast as war intrudes. Welcome to Downton Abbey!



We were actually laughing right out loud at Maggie Smith as Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham and the matriarch of the family. Her lines are so well written and equally well delivered. I secretly want to be her.

tell your story

If you've visited my blog before you know that my daughter and her husband live in Cambodia.



My son-in-law, Daniel, has been working with Cambodian-Americans who went to the US as refugees (usually as children, or even born outside of Cambodia in refugee camps along the Thai border) and were later deported back to Cambodia. Having been raised American, the challenge of integrating into Cambodian life is enormous & the struggle is very dear to their hearts.

The Phnom-Penh based group, Studio Revolt, created this powerful video called "My Asian Americana" to highlight the injustice & invisibility surrounding this issue. The video has been selected by the White House for the top-ten submissions to the "Tell Your Story Contest" contest and if they win, the creators will have the chance to go to the White House to speak about the issue of deporting refugees & perhaps, real change can occur in our policies.

If you are interested, please go & vote & share – by March 1, 2012



www.whitehouse.gov/aapi/whats-your-story

your favorite k-cup

I have had my Keurig Coffee Maker for over a year now and
I'm looking for some suggestions from fellow k-cup users.



My go-to coffee is Newman's Own Extra Bold both regular and decaf.


{google image}

I am looking for some new kinds to try but don't
want to buy invest in a whole box in case I don't like it.



Do you have a favorite k-cup?

KenKen

In the newpaper {delivered to our Italian Villa}
is a puzzle called KenKen.
KenKen is the hottest puzzle craze since Sudoku
This will be my new evening entertainment!



It is printed in two versions
4x4 (pretty easy) and 6x6 (challenging!)

Check it out: KenKen.com

wide right

Those of you who are Buffalo Bills fans,
sadly, need no explanation for the title of this blog.



Jim and I are looking for a church to attend while in Florida.
Today we went to a Presbyterian Church and
the serman was "Faith and Football: Wide Right".
I know it must be an omen but would you say . . .
stay here or try another church?!



The message: forgive yourself.

Non Bills fans can read about "wide right" here.