Knott’s Day

For his birthday this year, hubby wanted to take Donovan to Knott’s Berry Farm, a favorite place from his childhood and from when our kids were growing up. (Fun fact: Knott’s opened in 1952.) He came down with a coldly-thingy on his actual bday, so we put it off until this past Sunday.

Have iPad (and Switch), will travel

We got a hotel room near the park Sunday night - Donovan was very excited - and bright and early Monday we headed to the park… A bit too early, since their weekend opening time and their weekday opening are different. Oops. 

I was really impressed with the very empty parking lot when we pulled in at 9 am (an hour before the gates opened.) At least we got a good parking spot??

D is not a fan of new things, he prefers to warm up to them gradually. 

We stood in line for the first ride, Camp Snoopy’s airplanes, but he changed his mind about going on when we got to the head of the line. 

No problem. 

We switched to something I could ride with him - the hot air balloons - and we were off and running…. right back to the airplanes. Success!

Donovan was not a fan of roller coasters - same! - or things with rolling motion that tends to roil your stomach (double same!)

but he ended up going on just about every other ride in Camp Snoopy,

and the Calico Railroad (one of my favorites),

with his favorite being……

The airplanes! He rode it twice and would happily have gone again.

All decked out for Knott’s Scary Farm

So fun but sad too that D is the youngest grand, and he’s getting older, and soon we won’t have anyone to take to Camp Snoopy anymore. At least we’ll have the (really fun!) memories. 

Knott’s still doesn’t do crowd control very well. We’ve joked about it for years - they definitely aren’t Disneyland, who are the masters of people-moving. Just a sign or two, to explain what line you need to be in, or how to get to a specific ride/exit, would be nice. It’s not rocket science… 

Ghost Party Quilt

 Look what’s finished!!

I picked it up from my long-arm buddy on Thursday -

 her pup loves having her picture taken. 💕 

Can you see the ghost quilting? So cute!

Got the binding done Friday just as it was getting dark

Flying ghosts (it was windyyyyyy)

so had to wait for today to get some beauty shots. 

So happy with how it turned out! 

 Backing from my stash

Pattern is ‘Ghost Party’ by Woollypetals. Fabric is a fat quarter bundle I bought last year, plus bits and bobs from my stash. 

Back Side of Water

One of my favorite jokes from Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise ride was going behind the falls to see “the back side of water.” It just kinda stuck and has been a running tag line in the family for years. 

So, wanna see the back side of FPP? 

Had these off the design wall and was folding them for their trip to the longarmer when I felt the crinkle, crinkle and thought, “hmmmm maybe I should take the papers out...” Two hours later, all fixed. (It’s definitely not a quick job.)

Out With The Old

Time to change things up again! 

Before and after

With most of the grandkids moving away, the pool table wasn’t getting much use.

2021 (more super cute pix here)

Plus, Gary and Cheyenne just rented a new house… and they are billiards fanatics… and their garage is still clean and empty…

So today a local pool table company disassembled our 20 year old slate table, packed it up (oh so carefully) and reassembled it in Gary’s garage. Complete with new felt (LA Kings blue!)

We’re going to miss it (especially when I need an extra surface for big quilt projects)

Ping pong table topper was great for quilty projects

but Pop is already working on a plan to convert the room into a combined play area for Donovan and a bedroom - with fold-away Murphy beds - for when the grandkids, and maybe their parents, visit. 

Oopsie. The only evidence the table was ever here…that was a lot of weight for linoleum tiles

And he’s got until Christmas to get it done. On your mark, get set…

2012, Leanne helping me make her first quilt, taped to the pool table (more pix here)

Just One (or Two) More

Turns out ghosties are like potato chips, you can’t eat make just one nine.

jACKK!

Since the fabric was still out, and the squares cut, why not use it up and see how individuals I could make for wall hangings?

Mickey

Looks like the answer is two. 

There’s *a lot* of white squares left still, but only enough variation in the dark background colors to do another half or three-quarter ghost. 

Unless I buy more Halloween fabric…. (I’m done for this year, but who knows with next year. These are kinda irresistible.)

Done! And Won!

Look what’s finished, including backing, and heading to the quilter in the morning? I loooove these ghosties and long-arm quilting is going to make them even better. 

One of my fav local quilt shops had an Instagram contest and I won! Yay!!

It was for 8 Halloween-themed fat quarters and… wait for it…

With UV light

they glow in the dark! 

Residual glow

Not sure what I’ll make with them (maybe this? ⬇️) but I’m excited to start looking and planning. 

Double AHHnna

The two AHHnnas are done

which means all the blocks are made 

and I can start sewing it all together tomorrow!

Only 6 fit on my design wall at a time

When I started this project, I planned to make all the eyes plain black, because that’s what was in the pattern, so why not?

 Dancing skeletons 

But I’ve had more fun fussy cutting and doing different eyeball shapes.

 The owl shows up much better IRL

I think the two BOOnes have the same eyes 

 Kitty hearts and nose

but everything else is different. 

 jACKK is the only ghost with a pieced mouth

Backing gets made tomorrow 

 Love the sparkly web balls so much

and Friday we head to my long-armed pal!