Goodbye 2016

As 2016 closes....

 I wish you all the Best in 2017

Crafts on the go - continued....

I finished all my 9 patch squares ...I decided against doing a disappearing 9 patch....

The top is done...and will be quilted when I return home.

The cape I was doing...was almost done...but I wasn't happy with it...so I pulled it apart and found an actual pattern...

We will see how this progresses...

I have started my my Grands Christmas Ornaments for 2017... One done and the second close to being done...

The Best Christmas Gift

Christmas Day a neighbour brought hubby this...

Hubby said it was the best gift!!!

Do YOU know what this is?

Christmas in the Desert....Live Nativity

A Local church puts on a Live Nativity every year.  It was a wonderful production! The pictures off my phone do not do it justice.

The Roman Guards were out in full force!!

The sets were very well done!

 A great place for the Nativity, with the Palm Trees and Sand

 Nativity with the Shepherd's

Three Wise Men

The program was 1 1/2 hours...everyone sat on hay bales... There was lots of music, dancers....it was a wonderful evening!!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!!

Tamale Festival

We went to the Tamale Festival in Somerton. It was 3 years ago when we were last there...the crowds were smaller...as the weather was cooler.

We had Beef Tamales, .... the tamale is wrapped in corn husks.

We tried an Apple Pecan Tamale....(the Corn Husk has been removed). It sounded good...but imagine cornmeal around apples, flour, spice and a few pecans with a dust of icing sugar and a swirl of caramel....now if I had a ladle of caramel... I would maybe have another one:)

Okay...so Tamales are NOT our favourite thing to eat....but the spirit of the Festival is fun:)

I saw Santa in the distance!!

We enjoyed the entertainment... it was a local group, and reminded hubby of the Irish Rovers.

Christmas in the Desert.... Christmas Park Parade

Our park had a little Christmas parade...

 There were Carolers

 Of course decorated Golf carts!

A few Elf's

Santa and Mrs. Claus..

and even Candy....

Christmas in the Desert.....Singing Christmas Tree

This is the second Christmas we have spend in the southwest....it's different not having the cold and snow....but we take opportunities to enjoy the Season...
We  attended the outdoor Singing Christmas Tree....

The evening was perfect for it ....

This was the tree with the lights off....not too exciting!

The lights of the tree danced with the music.. It was a fun Christmasy evening in the Desert South!

Backyard Entertanment

When we are home in Yuma..we spend most of our time in our back patio.... Twice daily we are entertained...

These little birds dance in front of us!!...We have notice 3 regular birds...but the dominant one was there the day I had my camera out!...

There is a beautiful Ruby Red one....who gets chased away by this little guy!

Wednesday Walks

 Our first big walk this season in Yuma...

 It's the Big morning walk we do... past a golf course

Down the canals... about 2 1/2 miles!

Black Walnut Crafts

On Sunday we attended an Art Sale...they are always fun to attend.
Since we have a Walnut Tree at home...we found these crafts very interesting!!
Items made from Walnut Shells!!

A Trivet

A Bowl

Magnets

Electric Light Parade

Saturday evening we went to Yuma's Electric Light Christmas Parade.... it was a beautiful evening!!

There were great marching bands too...but the pictures did not turn out the greatest!!

Crafts on the go..

 On our travels I worked on a dishcloth I had started at home....

I brought some 'scraps' from 'Quilt for Kids' and was excited to pull out my machine and get started on them. It is nice to have the cutting done as my space is limited here! I'm anxious to see what this scrappy quilt will look like!

There is a mix mash of squares... I divided them into dark and light colours.

I am planning on doing a 'Disappearing 9 patch.... hoping it comes together with the squares I have....

Years ago I saw a cape a lady made... have searched for the pattern...but finally decided to try it on my own...at the time I thought how easy it was... so I found some chunky yarn....

I enjoy having 'projects' on the go here....it is the best time for me to work on a variety of things!

To be continued...sometime:)

Arrived....

The next morning, we arrived...the vegetable fields smell so good!! I love all the green in the desert. Yuma is the Winter Lettuce Capital!.... they do grow other greens all winter long too...and nothing tastes better than these veggies freshly picked!!

The first day here...we work hard....after being gone for months ...we have dirt and dust to clean!! It took us all day to get things in order and unpacked!

Then I decided to do a little Christmas decorating..

I put up our Yuma tree!

A few simple lights outside...

On the Road...

Our trek to Arizona... is a drive I do enjoy.... I never tire of the beauty.... the shots are all drive by's....

We had about 10 minutes of snow.... thru the Wolf Creek area in Montana....

Then we had sunny skies...

Driving thru this valley is always my favourite..

Day two Utah....

Southern Utah the beautiful red rock...

The colour in my picture does NOT do it justice!!

Nevada...what I can say?

The second night...ended in Arizona...2 hours from our place.