No Idle hands here

Thank you Aytan for making us go to the Nixon Library, and yes, he does need a haircut. This image is of munitions sent to Israel during the Yom Kippur War, 1973, Nixon didn’t wait for one second to help Israel.

We talked about going to the Science center, but Aytan insisted – we must go to the Nixon library. It was good to get away from the smoke and fires.

I heard someone say years ago that the reason the Dems went after Nixon is because he started implementing many of the ideas the Dems always run on and never do anything about. Like, OSHA, Title 9, dept of Education – the kind of things that went wrong so quickly. So get rid of him they did – and smear him the did. Meanwhile, the malfeasance coming out of Dem WH is so way beyond Watergate – like the Hunter laptop…

Aytan enjoys these visits and I know he is retaining information that he sees and reads here. Shira now has a new appreciation as well because of Title 9. Even Becky who was raised to hate Nixon said she is very glad she came, she learned a lot . As did Erez, although I never taught him to hate Nixon, that was up to schools and society.

Love these campaign buttons, no one does these anymore, with so much social media out there. I did get a sticker for now DA Nate Hochman, but not a button.

The Oval Office is recreated here as well, unlike the Reagan – you can sit at the desk or couches. So Shira sat to sketch. She is becoming quite a good artist.

As a 13 year old, pouting is part of the look. I love this. I was very young and in Israel during his presidency, so I knew nothing about him being Grand Marshal at the Rose Parade.

The lovely reflecting pool, notice how clean and blue the skies are in Yorba Linda.

Inside the house where the Nixon family lived. Btw, his father built the house. On the parents bed is a beautiful basket quilt – made for their wedding, as well as a woven coverlet – another American craft. On the beautiful Craftsman furniture we see a lovely crocheted afghan, I pointed this out to Shira since she is really into crocheting.

President Nixon and his wife Pat died a year apart, Pat in 1993, he is 1994. It is extremely rare these days for someone to be born and buried in the same place.

Nixon was a former president for 20 years. First of all, he didn’t wait for the impeachment – he did the right thing for America and resigned, then he became a real elder statesman. All presidents after him, seemed his advice. Except for Carter – but then Carter was a horrible human being especially after his presidency.

A sculpture honoring his passing the Wildlife Bill.

A wedding was going to take place later that afternoon. Many Chinese and Vietnamese come here to pay homage. You would think that all those who were spared the draft would come as well – you would be wrong.

It is wonderful visiting these special places right near us. Much more to explore.

After 15 months of pain and anguish in Israel, it now hits home. This fire is literally 1 mile from my house, and the got it out quickly.

The main culprits for this disaster and both are passing the buck onto us. I’ve known for years how awful the cabal that runs this state is. And now, we didn’t vote for this, they have enshrined cheating into CA law.

What steams me is everyone on the socials telling us we deserve this. People are awful, that is all I can say. thousands have lost homes and most aren’t celebrities.

I’m sorry for James Wood, but, I hate that all the attention was one him. A friend who works at JPL says over 100 people lost their homes and he knows 12 of them.

Aside from my family and wonderful friends, this is what makes me happy. you can can, how the quilting changes everything, which is what I love about this. Oh, and the day the fires started I took my machine to be serviced – right up near where the Eaton Fire started, I don’t think that store was affected, but who knows, did I just sacrifice a sewing machines to the awfulness that is fire preparedness in CA?

finished, except for label, I have her name, I will probably make a label and add her birthdate later.

I found the image of this hippo online, printed and turned it into appliqué.

the back. A small baby quilt, what not use leftover blocks as well as fabric. The binding is made from fabrics in the quilt.

Nice batiks.

perfect size for a baby.

with Hippo!

finished the sampler as well. Now on to planning the baby shower.

I have been busy making things for the new granddaughter. First this lovely sampler in a variegated pink/purple. I need to go find a frame, I think it’s off to Hobby Lobby, since I also need acid free foam board to lace the work.

I was taught my first fiber arts from a lovely German friend of my mothers. She taught me that the back has to be a clean as the front. Well, in an instant I can see this is the back, but I do think it is about as neat as one can get.

Started a small, this will be one with small peacocks.

A quilt for new granddaughter.

The backing. Still need to quilt it.

Big brothers have decided her ‘lovey’ will be a purple hippo. So alongside the soft ones she’ll get -here is a purple – pink hippo.

Toy Hippo needs a flat hippo to go on the quilt.

Here she is before I appliquéd.

Appliquéd. stands out a little better, now on to the quilting.

Also, on to a new puzzle. The image on the box is not the image on the puzzle. This picture shows an orderly waiting room at the vets. The puzzle will sow the actual mayhem. What is helping me, is that the placement of the figures won’t change much and the colors are so bright and defined that it isn’t that hard to do. Onwards!

Back to the desert, this time with the family

A lot of mayham

silly antics

some of us relaxed while others played board games.

West is with the big guys when it comes to games.

Einav in PJs.

It wasn’t Hanukkah yet, but Joel brought Dreidels

We were very busy without a lot of pictures. We did go to an escape room – two of them actually and had a great time. solved our puzzles with time to spare. Aytan had a good time which is super important – now he can go with his parents. 5 years ago he had a fit and wouldn’t go in.

we had two rooms and they did just as well!

Went thrifting, found this 1960s’ glass pitcher, I’m replacing a plain white one with this. and a lovely scarf.

Got home, went to my local thrift shop to look for a frame, didn’t find one, but found this great Tajine and this lovely scarf- more like a shawl.

Made a hat.

My Iceland poppies have started blooming

Gorgeous Roses from TJS. At least they all opened, but they don’t last long. My friend Michael explained why. TJS buys cheaper flowers, and roses are finicky. I’ll continue to buy them.

Aytan downloaded the Nixon Library tour app and immediately told his mother he wants to go there. I said, I’d be happy to take him, but first lets go to the Reagan since it is closer and has a better exhibit.

We went. Aytan asked everyone, from the ticket salesperson to the docents – who is their favorite president. Reagan of course!

I Hadn’t been here is about 6 years. They revamped and made the permanent exhibition even better. Here, in the gift room is a whole display of Judaica that Reagan received.

I’m sure it’s just a small amount. They put the most beautiful on display. We were told that underneath the museum area is storage – with so many more items. So they probably switch them out.

Shira loved this! A game called just say no. So Becky had to inform her that when she was a child there was a DARE pledge they had to say every morning. Which of course backfired. Because in her elementary school – no one knew about drugs – until this program filled in all the details.

Airfare One is always a treat. I have to say, I though Aytan would get bored quickly, we were there for two hours – by the end he was outside on his phone. but he really enjoyed the experience. As did Shira. Unfortunately Erez was sick and didn’t join us.

the old phone and camera, taken on my phone and camera

We had to have a lunch break. Becky, Shira and I went to the Dead Sea scroll exhibit, it was very crowded. The day before the museum was closed for a private event. We didn’t stay there long – will go back on a weekday with friends

Happy Aytan, Happy Saba.

Happy Shira, Happy Saba.

great visit, no planning on other places to go – like the Getty or even the Nixon library

I have so many reasons why I voted for Trump – this unexpected one tops the list.

So while Biden has created an unprecedented pardon for his son – Trump is doing whatever possible to release the remaining hostages. Btw, anybody tell me that Biden loves his son – no he hates him – he never raised him well and then enabled every single bad behavior he could. After that – he punishes the rest of America by changing the rules of what a presidential pardon means.

After visiting the San Fernando Mission, it was time to paint the model. So Westley and I set to work.

Making very good progress.

After the Mission we went to see a movie at City walk. A cute Christmas movie with the Rock. He now has a production company – doing much better than regular Hollywood. The view over the Valley from the parking structure

We were greeted by a witch. Asked her if this was Wicked or Harry Potter – they were visiting Harry Potter world.

King Kong ready for Chirstmas

We watched the sprouting water, too cold to run through and get wet

scary monsters everywhere.

They do a great job with the seasonal plantings.

Finally, the Christmas tree. No fear from ‘minorities’ that don’t like Christmas.

Westley is in 4th grade, which means CA history. So after Thanksgiving I took the two boys to visit our local mission. the 17th among the 21 missions. Fra Fermin Lasuen, a Franciscan monk helped establish this mission between San Gabriel and Ventura. The convento – which housed the guest house and the winery, is the largest adobe building in CA – two story tall. this was basically a hotel for travelers, and today is a wonderful museum full of artifacts from the late 18-early 19th c.

The Bells of the El Camino Real – kings highway that used to dot the whole 101 freeway.

The famous fountain, which is original to 1797, you can tell these bricks are very old. Not the ones on top – they have been replaced.

There are many buildings here, looking through two doorways back at the fountain.

Over the years and over quite a few earthquakes a lot of damage has been done to the buildings – luckily they have been rebuilt. Most are adobe – unfired bricks that then have a very thick coating of stucco. Although since 1994 earthquake, concrete and long bolts have been used to shore up the buildings.

Look at that blue CA sky on Dec. 1. We did go into the church, Didn’t get pictures there. On through to the cemetery. we walked through the Bob Hope garden – where he and many of his family members are buried. Most of the cemetery is locked off from the mission, they have their own access. One reason is because we payed an entrance fee.

another bell. We were there at noon, the bell in the tower rang three times and had a short break before 3 more peels. Unfortunately – it only got to 9 -not to 12.

The woodwork shop and some old pottery. There is a winery under the Convento – very very cool. Both temperature wise and just seeing the artifacts there.

Not sure if this room was the old Church, the boys are looking at a modal of the church.

The walls are four feed wide! I can see a display case with many of the textiles.

A close up of a gorgeous ceremonial cope.

Sitting on chairs.

The walls are beautifully painted. The whole mission is very well cared for. At some point I’ll take them to the San Gabriel mission. Each one has a very different feel to it.

A lovely French tablecloth I found in Palm Springs, it fits the open table completely. I love it.

I ordered linen samples, from Latvia (via Etsy) it took a long time to arrive. I have now chosen the 4 on the lower right to make napkins. It will probably take at least 2 months to arrive, then I will work by hand making drawn thread hemmed napkins…. I’ll keep you posted when the fabric arrives.

Table set, there is a small table as well and the breakfast table will be for the kids. There will be 19 of us – I got 4 orphans – a friend had to call off her dinner – so I took a few.

cranberry, yum! Just the right amount of sweet and tangy

eggplant and winter squash.

stuffing and green beans

Turkey in the oven!

Aytan got reimplanted with his cochlear on the left side – so it hurts and he’s not feeling well and my friend Marsha made him a chocolate cake and chocolate chip cookies.

Elk and family spent a week in Waikiki – now home for Thanksgiving.

another puzzle done – with a missing piece in the lower lefthand corner.

Making a sampler that will probably go to new granddaughter.

almost 60% done.

The best place to see Mid century architecture is Palm Springs. This signage on an apartment building is really Googie design.

If you let a tree grow long enough, interesting things will happen. This is a Palo Verde – you can see the smaller branch is green. The main truck isn’t anymore, look how interesting this tree is as it peels itself back from the core.

a wonderful visit is Sunnylands – this is the massive estate of The Annenbergs. It is very hard to get tickets to see the private home and the private golf course. So they have this lovely visitor center. which is worth a visit, and a ‘small garden’.

There is a large expanse of grass – very green grass! In the middle a pyramid, this looks like in a year of two will be completely covered in succulents.

Plenty of succulents in the ground and all, very well cared for.

rows of barrels.

I think the gardeners come by often to clear out the ‘babies’, I hope they go to good homes.

A happy group of friends.

and a few of the guys.

welcome to Palm Springs with a nice bubbly wine.

Across the street from our balcony, I am very impressed. The next day I realized this was in honor of Veterans Day . Good thing, celebrating our veterans, for all I know a veteran living there.

What a lovely parade in Downtown Palm Springs. It is too hot for a parade on July 4th, so this one covers both.

AHH, the Marines.

I enjoy these very large inflatables. PSHS had a big part of this parade.

How wonderful to see the service dogs marching as well.

The weather was amazing here in the desert.

Uncle Sam has to bend down under the stoplights.

The marching band! from the Junior High.

This has to be a wig right?

The end of the parade.

Out at dinner with the whole gang! Great dinner! Food, company and ambience.