Bird's Eye View

The zoo has an aerial tram that you can ride to get from one side of the zoo to the other. It's amazing to see the zoo from above!

This picture is of one of the four aviaries.

In the zoo, you forget that the zoo is in the middle of downtown San Diego.

Even while the tram car shook a bit, we were all smiles!

Monkeying Around...

Haha..super punny, right?

The SD Zoo had SO many monkeys! Primates? Is that more politically correct? Either way...there were a lot!

The gorillas were our first stop. While we were checking out this troop, a zoo keeper came out to talk about all of the gorillas at the zoo. We heard about the three troops and learned a little about each member...the silverback, the surrogate mother, the babies. That made this exhibit extra special.

This guy was one of the younger sons of the male in the troop. Pretty playful guy.

Here is the troop's silverback. Definitely wouldn't want to get on this guy's bad side!

And here are a couple more pictures of the zoo's many many primates.

This little guy was quite the ham. As we walked up to his area he let out a little cry and came running towards the fence. He spent a bit of time watching us and then started showing off by jumping on the vines and screeching.

They were all super cute and Jacob and I tossed around the idea of bringing one home...but then we remembered that with the exception of the gorillas, they were all smaller than our cats...and our cats can attack!

Playing Hookie

Jacob & I had Friday off from work so we took the opportunity to cross something off my bucket list. Visiting the San Diego Zoo! We felt like we were playing hookie the whole day...it was great!

We took a lot of pictures, so I'll try to post some in the next few days.

Oh My Darlin' Clementine...

We are lucky enough to have a wonderful, year-round Farmer's Market nearby. Walking through the stands, tasting free samples, and buying fresh produce for the week is part of our typical Sunday routine...when are aren't too terribly lazy.

These clementines are our newest addiction. Jacob will come home from work and eat four of them in the first half hour of being home!

Happy 2012

A new year has begun! (which means I now have to get used to naming all of my work files '12...wish me luck)

The past year was full of some huge changes & opportunities & challenges for us. Seaton had surgery. I had sewing weekends with two of my best girls. We traveled to Florida for another best friend's wedding. Warren (my perfect 'nephew') was born. Jacob graduated. I left my job. We packed up our things & cats & said goodbye to Manhattan. We drove half way across the country to take a shot at a life in California. I met more of Jacob's wonderful family. He started a new job. My grandpa had a stroke. I started a new job...working four feet away from Jacob. We made some new friends. We saw the Dodgers & LA Kings play. We spent holidays at the beach. We missed the family & friends we left.

In all, 2011 was a great year. I hope that while 2012 continues to surprise, challenge, & reward us, we are able to smile at the end of the day & be thankful for everything we have. I hope that we continue to take advantage of all that this new life has to offer us...starting with going to the Rose Bowl! Look for us...45 yard line...4th row!

Happy New Year!

Baby Boy Quilt

Not only did I make Christmas gifts for my own family & friends this year, but I made my first commissioned quilt!

A woman at work asked me to make a quilt for her baby grandson.

While not everything turned out like I wanted, I learned a lot (sewing skills & selling skills) & think the quilt turned out pretty cute.

I know kids will latch on to whatever they will latch on to, but I can't help but hope that this little boy will love the quilt for years to come. That hope is why I enjoy quilting.

Christmas in Long Beach

Santa Katie's workshop was a busy place leading up to Christmas. Sadly, Santa Katie isn't nearly as skilled as the real good ol' St. Nick. Maybe it's his hundreds of years' experience...maybe it's his hundreds of elves...but somehow he manages to get all his gifts made & delivered on time. Not me!

Despite what I thought was an early start, & a bit of assistance from Elf Jacob, I still failed to finish & mail out all my gifts on time. One gift (or part of a gift...she also requested placemats) that did get to its recipient on time was a tree skirt for my sister & brother-in-law.

I've had the fabric for this project for months. It took me so long to decide on a pattern. I would make up my mind & start to lay everything out just to change my mind again & again & again. But I'm really happy with how it finally turned out.

One of my favorite little details is the snowflakes in the quilting. Thanks to my new sewing machine (the best Christmas gift from the best boyfriend) I have all these fun decorative stitches.

The fabric is super cute & this was one of my favorites.

And of course I had to get a picture of my tag on the finished project.

Karie got the tree skirt on Friday...barely in time! But it was under her tree for the big day & looked great!

Jacob & I spent Christmas day cooking (ham balls, vegetable casserole, party potatoes) & baking (pizzelles, sugar cookies). My mom safely made it to California (all by herself...I'm so proud) & we walked around Naples looking at the houses decorated for Christmas. Apparently the neighborhood theme was "Movies."

Mom has a bit of a thing for Snoopy.

This was the winner in my mind though! Talk about a Griswold house!

After we'd had our fill of Christmas lights we came home to have dinner & open presents. All in all, it was a wonderful, relaxing day.

I hope that you all had a Merry Christmas as well...full of family, friends, love, & laughter. We missed all of you terribly & wished you could have been here...because it's 70 here & most likely a lot colder where you are. :)