Grant Recipient Ecstatic!

~~~~~ Drum roll ~~~~~
I found out this week that my grant proposal was chosen to be funded by CARS+ , which is the California professional Special Education group I belong to. They are sending me a check to support my science project that will culminate with a quilt being made by my students. We have to have it done by the end of May. I will attend conference free in February of next year in San Diego, as part of my prize. There I will be showing the quilt and talking about the process. My award will be officially announced at the conference in a couple of weeks in Sparks, Nevada but I won't be there. Earlier this week a group of us went out to dinner and Joanie stood up in the restaurant and made an announcement to anyone who would listen. So, I guess I have had my alloted minutes of fame. That said, I am really excited. I've been planning this quilt in my mind for 2 years and had decided to make it, whether I got money or not. So, now I have to put action to my plans and make it happen. I had already planned to donate it to SCICON, our science camp, and they are saving a wall for it! Not much else going on this year anyway you know (wink wink).

Save the Date

Hope everyone can make it!

Love,
Amelia and Chris

Quilt Camp

This is what greeted me this morning as I approached Quilt Camp!
I soon met my own "Sylvia Bergstrom" and company (ala Jennifer Chiaverini if you have read her books). This lovely 6300sq' home in the country is grand enough but with the amenities and our double hostesses it was even better! We started out by getting a brief tour of the house,aviary, and stations for sandwiching quilts, ironing and cutting. Soon we were busy sewing, watching the peacocks out the window and chatting with our new friends. Then it was breakfast, sew, lunch, sew, snack sew, then our 9 hour sewing fest was done.

Fifteen of us were in the living room that had been emptied of the family furniture. We each had a 6' table to ourselves and lights, a window, chair and garbage can. I went with several projects planned and got most of them done. It was highly productive and lots of fun!

Short and Sweet

As you can see Paul and I took a little tiny ship to Catalina Island and Ensenada for 5 days. We went in a group of people with the excuse of taking a Behavior Management Class for the special education teachers onboard. I knew the teachers and some of the cruisers so we had a fun and relaxing time. We spent most of our time with a one couple. We did all the things you do on a cruise, left Mexico the way we found it and will be exercising a lot this coming month. It was a great get-a-way before we have to go back to work on Monday.

Just kidding, this is how big the ship really was! Now I know the difference between Royal Carribean and Carnival. But it doesn't matter as RC doesn't sail out of Long Beach anymore so if you want to sail to Mexico, Carnival is your cruise line. (P.S. They are not the wild party cruise line of 20 years ago .....drat)

Medical Helicopter Crash Landing!

At 3pm on Sunday, there was a serious accident where a medical helicopter made an unscheduled emergency landing on a garage in Visalia, CA. Crews were alerted to the danger and a brave man rescued the copter using a common rake. Although his methods were unusual, everyone was found safe. It was determined that the accident was due to pilot error and there will be no further investigation.

Lookie what Paul got for Christmas!

2008 Goal met!

Tour de Visalia Winner!

Paul and I made a goal to ride 1000 miles this year on our bikes. That seemed like a nearly impossible plan but little by little we did it! Paul finished before I did but he rode with me today to get my last 17.89 mile ride in so I could finish by the end of the year. There was no sportscaster reeling off my stats, no team members slapping me on the behind, no ceremonial glass of champagne on the Champs Elysses and no victory lap. But I can tell you that on a quiet neighborhood street this afternoon there was no happier cyclist than I, as I met the huge goal I had set for myself. Another reminder that with determination and small steps you can complete something bigger than you ever have before.

As a side note, I never thought I would buy bicycling pants, certainly never intended to stand still wearing them and couldn't in my wildest dreams ever imagine that I would let myself be photographed in them. It must have been the euphoria because I feel very proud of the moment and the personal victory. Enjoy. You won't see this again....for at least a year!

Our day started with a beautiful sunrise, reflecting on the clouds. Bob was pleased with the hand drawn card he received from T's family telling him of the renewal of his "Model Railroader" magazine subscription. Just in the last half hour it's started to rain. There's some rumbles off in the distance so it might pick up. Doesn't compare to the pictures of snow in Oregon but this is what we have. In a little while, we'll head across the street for turkey dinner with John and Donna and Brad and Dee. I made pecan pie, cranberry sauce and, of course, sauerkraut. Merry Christmas!